What does it mean when ex smiles at me when he sees me especially when he was the one who dumped me?

[Anonymous]

I kept my face neutral when I saw him. He on the other hand had a big smile on his face. I also noticed he looked away quickly when I turned to look at him.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

On top of what anon30-35 already added...

(admins, give randomized numbers to anons when we want to quote them please, just 2 cents)

On top of that, I think your lack of context is really problematic because a smile is just a smile, it induces interpretations for you and it's normal given the situation but... Without further elements or further interactions between you and your ex there is nothing enough yet to say anything about what a simple smile says... Imagination is cool and all but then it has nothing to do with reality

[Asker]

Recently he viewed my instagram story despite not following me. Last year we were talking only for 2 months and now we’ve been in no contact for over year. That’s why I’m suprised that he sometimws views my story updates. Also he used to stare at me wiyh serious face before. This time he smiled at me and look away quickly when I noticed him.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Then I think the problem you have is that you don't have interactions with him per se, viewing an ig story isn't meaningful in itself, a smile isn't either. Meaning comes in when there is an ensemble of behaviours to look at, for now it's way too thin to consider anything.

What is left then is interpretative imagination of yours. And this, depending on your personality, can generate a lot of ideas, and a lot of unreasonable ones. Unreasonable in the sense that they are coming from not enough elements, essentially filling up the blanks with fantasies :)

[Anonymous]

You’re the one who’s in their feelings, not him, and rightfully so since you’re the one who got dumped. He has no animosity or issue towards you so there’s no reason for him not to be friendly and smile at you. His humbleness is probably hard for you to grasp because you’re not in a place where you want to smile at him, I'm sure if you had the restraint you wouldn’t even acknowledge his existence.

[Asker]

It’s been so long since we’ve last been in contact. Also recently he viewed my instagram story despite not following. It’s weird that I’m still on his mind

[Opinion Owner]

Perspective is everything, and if you wanna try to understand his actions then you have to fully step out of your shoes and into his in the most unbiased way possible. Like remove your feelings completely, then look. If you were him and you came to the decision that you wanted to end your relationship then proceeded to do so, how would you feel? Assuming things ended amicably and his reasons for breakup weren’t something tumultuous, like abuse, harsh toxicity, etc. You would most likely feel fine acknowledging him because you aren’t carrying the same resentment or negative feelings that the person who got dumped would feel.

As for him checking your instagram story, I wouldn’t put too much thought behind that mainly because of the innocence in that action alone. I don't know about you but I have definitely had an ex cross my mind and wonder how they were. Doesn’t mean they’re like on the brain 24/7 but at the same time they are still apart of your past and it’s normal to get curious about them. I would probably be more obscure about checking on them, like just glancing through their social media or something but some people don’t care about that because they aren’t hiding. I would check discreetly if I don’t want them to know I looked, meanwhile there’s people like him who just don’t care about all that.

[moneymagnet24]

Because he is so happy to see his Emma Watson again

[Asker]

Huh? What do u mean?

[moneymagnet24]

I mean you're such a sweetheart
That he regret dumping you.

[Asker]

What shows that he really regrets it? What if he’s just friendly? Also recently he viewed my instagram story despite not following me.