Search Results: pursuing a younger guy

I'm 17, gonna be 18 in January, and he's just turned 16 this week. We met when I asked my music teacher if she knew anyone that could be my accompanist for an upcoming gig, and she said that he's the guy for the job. We hit it off nearly instantly. We both seek out any excuse to see each other, we talk on Skype any chance we get and when we can't even do that, we text or Facebook chat. We're basically inseparable at this point, and it's been less than a month since I've met him. Yesterday, when he saw me off at the train station after I came over to his place (and it's quite a journey from my town to his - I have to take one train to the city where our school is situated, and then another one back home, it takes about 1.5h in all), he told me that I "had no idea how glad he was to have found me" after I gave him a quick peck on the cheek (childish, I know) and I have to say, I return this sentiment. I really want to get together with him, but here are the two things that bother me:
1. The age difference, obviously. We may have quite a bit of mutual understanding, but dating is a whole new level to reach. I don't know if I should expect him to handle that.
2. I'm taking my finals this May, he will take his in 2017. After that I will either go study in Warsaw (which is, what, 200 miles away? Not exactly convenient for regular visits) or become an au pair in another country, possibly the UK or even the US. None of these scenarios make it any easier on us.

What do y'all think?

My best guy friend - we'll call him "R" - and I have been friends for about 10 years now. We met in high-school, he's three years younger than me, and we have the same sense of humor, a lot of similar interests, lots of ways we work wonderfully together in most respects. We genuinely love each other (as best friends of 10 years are wo nt to do). Our conversations haven't gotten "deep", but we both enjoy the scientific discussions, and never really have a dull moment.

I had moved away from my hometown where he is to a different state for a few years, and we lost touch. When I came back about 2 years ago, we started hanging out again like we used to, with the addition of being 420 friends. During all this time we never so much as cuddled, and pursued our own relationships as normal, all failing miserably.

Fairly recently, I got out of a toxic 10-month relationship after finding out that the guy I thought might be close to my soul mate had been dating another girl for 7 of those 10 months. R had come over usually weekly just to chill during that relationship, and was someone I could relax around and be me.

Now, a few weeks after said breakup, I had been going over more often to not be alone and to smoke a bit of the emotional pain away. R said he had a question, he asked to have sex. We both confirmed neither of us are in any place for the drama of a relationship, but we don't want to have sex with some random stranger. So we did it. It was a little awkward at first, but as things started going it just keeps getting better. He does all the little things I've wanted in previous partners, without even having to mention it. He seems to be thoroughly enjoying my efforts, and has said so during on more than a few occasions. He caresses me when we cuddle, though it's subtle. We're both very subtle (it took 3 hours for either us to make a move AFTER deciding we did want to have sex).

Is he just trying to be a comforting friend when he knew I needed it?