What am I to make of his behaviour?

[friendsforlife]

There is boy who is one of my closest friends at university (let's just him X), and we are really close and all. The whole world tells me he likes me and i know it is true because it is if anything, explicitly obvious from his behaviour. He is unbelievably protective, and possessive (I even talk to another guy nd he behaves as if the world has come to an end and does really stupid stuff just to get my attention), he likes to spend every single free moment he has with me any nobody else. If it is anything regarding me he leaves everything and just does whatever he has to make me happy. If I don't talk to him for a single day he goes bonkers and starts doing whatever he can to make me talk to him again. He even beat up somebody once coz that idiot had made a rude comment about me. He likes to get all touchy like holding my hand or putting his arm around me shoulder or waist while we're walking, and he's not that physically comfy with his other female friends. And when we talk he purposely leaves clues to show me that i mean a lot to him. Basically yeah, i thought it was pretty obvious.
We had never really talked about this, and I was fine, but then I thought that before we departed for our summer break, I would use this summer time to think us through so that we have a definite name for our relationship, coz now we're neither just friends not more than that. But I noticed an alarming change in his behaviour since we left for home.
For two months, he didn't try to contact me, he never even bothered finding out if I was okay, and if I messaged him, he just replied back in monosyllables likes he was not even interested in talking to me.
He's not the kind to keep track of how much we interact and neither am I. normally is it just so happens that we couldn't talk for a few days due to whatever reason, i don't pay much attention and we just catch up soon enough. but the fact that he didn't even bother to contact me once during these two months has gotten me thinking what is his behaviour all about?
does he even care about me or not? if not, then why does he behave the way he does during uni. am I just his entertainment source while he's bored at uni, and the moment he steps out and finds better sources, i'm all forgotten? if he does, then why hasn't he tried to talk to me even once during this time? it's not like he's very busy or something? and anyway how long does it take to leave a message asking how i am?
right now i am considering if i should even hang out with him anymore? I do not understand what to make of his erratic behaviour. and i'm scared if i ask him outright i'll just scare him off. please help me figure him out and what he wants!! even, assuming that i was wrong to think that he likes me, fine. even then, as a friend is wrong of me to expect that one of my closest friends doesn't give the out of sight out of mind treatment and to expect some respect of my feelings at least?

[miki036]

Have you ever thought that he has a personal problem that he is going through and he has this male pride that is the reason why he won't tell you..
I still think you shouldn't cut the lines between you two.. Maybe you should give him time on his own.

[Empty Road]

Do you like him? If so, let him know.

[basilandthyme]

If he was interested in you, he would have made you his girlfriend.

[michelle23]

maybe he thinks your not interested and used this time apart to try and get over you. im not sure if he sounds like bf material though.. way too possessive, controlling and jealous even though you havnt even kissed..

[4 ratties]

Sounds like he's moved on to someone else or is enjoying his summer being single.