Old Friend Confusion

So last month, an old friend and I have recently gotten back into touch after about 10 months. 
Him and I had both been extremely close at one point and time.
The other day, as the two of us were talking, he came at me with a certain question. "What would you do if I told you I've been in love with you since we first met?" At first I freaked out and my heart stopped, then I expressed that I would be shocked in which he responded with his signature smile (one in which he uses when he's joking).
But my question is, if he was joking, why would he even say that in the first place? Or was he trying to hint something more at me?