Real talk: if a girl sends this, it's almost always ironic or part of a joke, especially if you're not in a deep, committed relationship. She might be making fun of 'couple goals,' wishing for a partner in a self-aware way, or gently poking fun at your dynamic. Context is literally everything here.

How people actually use this in texts is usually with a heavy dose of irony. It's a throwback, a 'cheugy' emoji, used to satirize traditional romance or exaggerate a situation for comedic effect. If it's used sincerely by Gen Z, it's usually in a very self-aware, almost theatrical way.

It can be both, but the 'flirty' is usually wrapped in layers of irony. If it's friendly, it's for joking or meme-ing with your besties. If it's flirty, it's often a playful, 'we know this is kinda cringe but cute' kind of vibe, testing the waters while maintaining plausible deniability. You gotta read the room and your existing dynamic.