He acts like he doesn't care and yet keeps me as a friend *confused*?

me & a guy I'm "supposedly dating" had some confusion two weeks back, about where we stand as a couple (its been almost 5 months now). He left for the field and didn't tell me, so I was in the dark about what was up for two weeks & why he wasn't calling back ect, so I umed he'd left me & left some upset messages to boot. Now he's back and some more two weeks have ped and he wont broach the subject at all about "where we now stand amid the confusion that he himself helped cause"... he just makes small talk when I ask for help, or how he's doing. As a matter of fact he hasn't done any reaching out and he knows my life is in a tight spot right now "financially & emotionally... hell I'm not expecting him to save me from that I just want understanding and peace of mind "so its natural for me to ask where we stand to at least know for certain about something in my life as everything else is uncertain." My question is "why keep me as a friend if he clearly have no further interest in "seriously dating me...." after my "umption?" (In my mind he could at least acknowledge me... and say hey this 'what I want ect)