My experience is the other person wants others to know their "on top" their insecurities.
There have been times that the other person wants to direct my attention to "something" but just isn't able to be direct, kind, and brief. Long stories, metaphors, rhetoric aren't kind IMHO. Once, long ago I took a communications class and one of the very first things the instructors said: "Avoid rhetoric at all costs." So, teasing, poking fun, "just joking" are all those things at someone's emotional, spiritual expense I have found.

Enjoy your class and be yourself, the guy sounds unreliable.