Did your ex ever text you back?

I was talking to a guy who was one of my best guy friends before all of this. We were just talking for about 3 weeks, but it was great and I was even planning on a trip to go see him in a month. He literally told everyone about me...parents, family, and friends. He sent me flowers on Valentine’s Day. He was totally ready and down to start a relationship. Out of the blue, he ended up telling me he just wants to be friends, so we both agreed to be good friends still. It’s been a difficult 3 weeks since, and we prob interact more than before this all happened. He’s actually changed my perspective on a lot things and now I feel more stronger than ever that things would have worked and still would. I’ve been googling and I didn’t know about the “No Contact Rule”. I’ve been sending him memes and snaps every day...some days I get replies other days I don’t. I want to get this guy back, I just don’t know how. A part of me just wants to text him and straight up tell him. The other part wants me to tell him how he’s changed my perspective. And the OTHER part wants to just wait it out with no contact AT ALL and see what happens. But I’m scared since we were just talking that the No Contact Rule won’t work. I’m also scared he’ll think I don’t want it to work so he just won’t say anything. But has anyone’s ex text them back? What happened and how did you get them back? What do I do???