What’s going on here?

Okay soo this guy that I went to hs with and get my tree from hmu up about new stuff like he typically does ya know getting a friend update but out of no where asked if I had a boyfriend etc etc and then he asked if I would be interested in him and I asked in what capacity like mess around or seriously date long term SN:(he talked to my younger cousin before me but she didn’t take him serious) and he said like just mess around and I told him no because I want something serious and not just a fling Im not a fling type of person and he already talked to my cousin (this was about 2.5yrs ago) but he understood and apologized but didn’t want to keep beating around the bush and fast forward I hadn’t t heard from him in awhile unless it was like for new product and then yesterday he texted asking how I was and stuff checking on me and I was telling him this month is rough for me as I lost my mom back in August of 2021 two weeks after her 48th birthday and he offered to come hang or talk any time I needed and asked to pray for me, also he still wants to hangout he said we should have session and normally it’s a group thing with all the friends but I think it’ll just us two, ( me being me I assume he’s being friendly) can any male please explain to me what is happening here, a little context we’ve never hung alone only in the friend group we chill pass the to left while watching a show or movie and either my sister and me cook for the whole group or we order out but he’s never shown any interest prior so this caught me off guard to say the least and Im unsure 🫤 how to not make it weird lol like me and him barely talk but every once in a blue moon so my anxiety has got my brain working overtime any indication on what this guy is up to?

Updates
8 mo
Update he asked me to fool around casually but I declined because I actually want to date, but he’s rather persistent he’s been asking quiet a bit and each time I’ve declined explaining I’d like to seriously date long term and this was after the many attempts and we also kinda made out, but I did stop it because I knew we might cross my boundaries and I am not ready for that, a week or so later he asked me again and you guessed it same answer but this time when I explained to him again
Updates
8 mo
He ended up saying we can see where things go but to me if he isn’t looking for that why would he suggest to give it a try and I asked him why his only answer was we can always just try but only if I’m comfortable I don't know I’ve kinda just kept my distance like I like him no doubt but he and I aren’t really looking for the same thing
What’s going on here?
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