The thing is, when people fall in love they may become almost obsessive about the object of their love ~ which is fine, as long as it's not true obsession.
If both parties feel the same way, then it may work, but if one likes a bit of independence, then it's not going to work so well.
So, everything was ok while you were online friends and also after you met and spent time together & he was even ok about you saying no to dating him, but you soon became boyfriend & girlfriend, anyway, and enjoyed time together, chatted a lot, grew close ~ and all was well.
However, you found it strange that he asked your friends about you. You actually say 'It started getting weird ..'.
That word 'weird' indicates, to me, that you considered it more than him just being overly concerned when you didn't respond to texts quickly enough. You also say: 'he kept texting me.. a LOT'. This also indicates, to me, that you considered his behaviour excessive.
About those texts:
I must admit, I get concerned if my loved-ones don't respond to texts fairly quickly ~ eg if my sons are out, late at night, I will worry about them.
Do you think that you gave him anything to worry about? Maybe waiting half an hour, if he was worried, might cause him stress?? Did you actually tell him that you would not be continuing with the texting, so not to worry about you if he didn't hear from you?
Could it be that he misunderstood about text conversations? Did he realise that you didn't wanmt them to be so numerous and demanding?
Males and females have brains that are wired differently. Sometimes you really have to explain yourselves.
You say: 'if I didn't talk to him for even one day he started freaking out to all of my friends and thinking that there was something seriously wrong with me.' Is this because you didn't reply to a text and this caused him to worry that there might be a problem?
With regard to the conversations with friends, you were surprised at 'how much he talked to them'. Did he really discuss you excessively? Did they find this 'weird'? Were they mutual friends? Was he mainly just saying ghow great you were ~ as many young men in love might? When he was 'asking them what was wrong with' you, was there
really nothing wrong, or had he picked up on something? What did your friends think and say?
So was his behaviour 'weird' or 'sweet'? You say both.
Did he think that you would be touched by his concern for you when you said not to visit while you were ill? Some girls would say not to visit, but would secretly hope that their boyfriend might visit, anyway. Maybe he thought that you were such a girl? Maybe his previous girlfriends were. Similarly with the gymnastics.
Since he believes that you were sent by God, maybe he thinks that God intends you to get back together.
Maybe he loves you so much he is prepared to forsake everything for you ~ including the marines. He did say that he would die to protect you. Was he being loving, or over-dramatic, when he said that this?
He want to hold you ~ you feel claustropnobic
He's sweet ~ you're independent
You don't want to hurt him ~ but you can't take it anymore
It could be that this boy is simply besotted with you ~ young love, which should pass, but which will cause him pain for a while.
It could be more that he is obsessed with you ~ not healthy, so it's good that your parents know what is going on, in case his behaviour becomes irrational. If he really is 'sweet' this shouldn't be a problem.
It sounds like you two are simply not right for each other ~ even though he thinks you are.
He may be the clingy lovey-dovey type, while you are more down-to-earth and independent. Time will sort it out.
I'm guessing that communication hasn't been too clear between you. He was over-communicating, and maybe you were not making your feelings completely clear to him ~ because male & female brains don't work the same ~ or he simply wasn't hearing and / or acknowledging what you are saying.
As for finding a good relationship, I too was the independent type, too. However, I found my Mr Right and we have been together for 34 years. I don't think that I copuld live with anyone else for more than a week ~ but our marriage is very happy. You will find the right person, but it isn't him and, while you will need to be kind, you will also need to make this crystal clear to him.
Good luck.
