Just friends or does he want more?

[way_2_tired]

I have been asking a few friends and posted on LDR forum to get some opinions, but mostly nobody knows what to think.

 

Here is the situation.

 

I met this doctor while doing medical service learning work in Africa. I am still in training to be a doctor and he trained me while I was there. We are both dedicated and passionate about medicine for the underserved. It is what we are dedicating our lives to and we are giving up a lot to do so. (I'm not bragging, just laying out the facts)

 

We started to fall in love, but I had to leave. So now months later we are starting a non-profit together to build a hospital in a poor region of his country. We mostly just talk medicine.

I will be visiting the country for training etc every year for teh next five years until I move permanently.

 

I still love him, but we don't say "I love you" anymore.

 

I know he thinks highly of me as a person and medical professional as he has said so and given specific reasons. But what I can't figure out is if friends/colleagues is all he ever wants to be.

 

He seems a bit protective at times, telling me not to talk on the phone and drive, and not to drink too much at the nightclub cuz he thinks some guy will try to take advantage of me.

He mentions future things like my spending my next trip to Africa with him learning about his country. Also mentioned he hopes I will join his team (work in his hospital) when I finish training. (b/c he thinks I'll make a good doc?)

 

Says he wants to meet my family, see my state (USA).

 

he doesn't flirt with me over the phone or anything though. Says he misses me sometimes but that is it.

 

One time I sort of brought it up and he said that the feelings were still there but that I was gone.

 

I just don't know what to do. Some people have told me just to ask, but I don't want to make things more awkward or push him away

 

I am tempted to just say "I love you" one of these days and see what he says. I have to bite my tongue, not to as it is.