Why won’t he call me his girlfriend in public?

We’ve been together two years — long distance, me in Monterrey, him in Dallas. Every time I visit, he introduces me as ‘a friend’ or just smiles and changes the subject. Like last month at his sister’s birthday, her husband said, *‘¿y esta linda quién es?’* and he just said, *‘una conocida, de México.’* Una conocida. After two years. I felt the heat in my face — wanted to disappear. My tías already ask when I’m bringing someone serious, and I keep saying ‘soon’ — but how? People talk, you know? Chisme spreads. I told him it hurt and he said, ‘It’s complicated with family here, you don’t understand.’ But I do. I get it. I just… need to be more than a secret. Am I asking too much? 🤦‍♀️ He says he loves me, plans to move back — but if he can’t say it now, will he ever? I don’t want to waste my life waiting.