Why am i still confused about him after all this time?

we dated for about 8 months when we were both 16. We broke up in 2024 and then had absolutely no contact for almost two years. Recently he suddenly came back into my life and now I’m really confused because I still have feelings for him but some of his behavior is bringing back the exact same doubts I had when we were together.
For some background we were classmates when we were younger. In 2023 we started talking again and eventually he told me he liked me. I liked him too so we started dating.
At the time I already had a job and some of my own money while he didn’t. I genuinely never cared about that. I was perfectly happy just walking around together or going somewhere inexpensive. I also loved giving him gifts because that’s one of the ways I show affection.
After a few months though he started becoming distant. For around three months he didn’t want to meet me and would say he had exams was tired or wanted to spend time with his friends. When we finally did meet I felt like I was the only one trying to hold his hand or hug him. He seemed emotionally distant and barely smiled in the pictures we took.
A few days later was my birthday. I specifically told him I didn’t want a gift or anything expensive. I just wanted him to come see me. I got dressed up and waited for him but only a few hours before we were supposed to meet he told me he couldn’t come because his mother wouldn’t let him.
After that I didn’t message him for a week and he didn’t message me either. Eventually I decided to end the relationship. I was so emotional that I couldn’t even write the breakup message myself so my close friend helped me. His response was basically just “okay” and that there was nothing he could do about it.
That hurt so much because it felt like he didn’t care.
Then we didn’t speak for almost two years.
Recently shortly after his birthday he suddenly messaged me around 6 AM saying “hey.” I was shocked. We started talking again and he told me he regretted the breakup was disappointed in himself and had loved me throughout the entire time we were apart. He called himself a coward and apologized for how he treated me.
At first I told him I forgave him but didn’t love him anymore. He said he just wanted my company and would be happy being friends so eventually I agreed to start talking to him again.
Then we met.
The first time we had lunch together. He paid even though he still doesn’t have a job. He then waited around three hours outside my workplace until I finished and we went to the cinema. He tried to hold my hand during the movie. I initially said no but eventually I reached for his hand myself and rested my head on his shoulder.
Afterward we walked home holding hands. He told me he loved me but I didn’t say it back at first.
He also told me that while he was waiting outside my workplace he was scared I would block him after we met. That made me feel like he genuinely was afraid of losing me.
We kept talking.
On my birthday he asked to see me after work and brought me a LEGO flower set. We went to the cinema again and cuddled. I felt completely comfortable with him and slowly realized my feelings were coming back.
Eventually I told him I loved him too.
Then something happened that made me question everything again.
He was streaming a game on TikTok when someone commented asking how they could make a girl love them deeply. He replied with something along the lines of:
“Be in a relationship with her for 8 months break up with her don’t text her for 2 years then come back and become a couple again.”
That really hurt me. Given everything that happened between us it felt like he was making a joke out of our relationship and everything I had gone through.
I blocked him everywhere. A few hours later he called me multiple times. Eventually I answered and explained why I was upset. He apologized over and over and said it was just a joke and he didn’t mean anything by it. I told him I didn’t find it funny.
We eventually talked it out and I forgave him. He told me he loved me and that’s when I finally admitted that I loved him too.
Now I’m confused again.
A few days ago he told me he wanted to see the new Spider-Man movie with me. Yesterday I told him we should go and said I could pay for the tickets. He told me he couldn’t because he had no money.
I told him I didn’t mind paying for everything but he still didn’t want to go.
Later that same day around 10 PM he went to one of those horror or escape-room places with his friends. They aren’t free and cost around $10–15 here.
Maybe his friends paid for him. I honestly don’t know so I’m trying not to jump to conclusions.
But it still hurt.
If he genuinely had no money why couldn’t he come with me when I offered to pay especially after he was the one who told me he wanted to go with me?
And now I’m getting the same feelings I had during our original relationship. I feel like I want to see him more than he wants to see me. I feel like I’m putting in more effort. I’m constantly wondering whether he actually wants me.
I don’t know if I’m overthinking everything or if I’m noticing a real pattern.
Does this sound like someone who genuinely wants a relationship with me or am I getting emotionally attached to someone who is going to hurt me again?