I am in the second year of my 2 year Master of Philosophy course. I will spend this entire year conducting research in a particular lab in a particular department. Unlike my colleagues, my research supervisor / mentor/ thesis guide / major professor himself approached me and asked me to work with him. In this school, there was an entrance exam for which there were only two seats, I had topped the merit list. I will be working with this professor until the end of March next year. So far, I have one paper that has been accepted for publication, the second paper has been drafted that needs to be edited and sent for publication. My professor treats me very well, he considers me as a friend and colleague, and goes out of his way to support me. Yesterday, I approached him in his office to inquire about the procedure to obtain a letter of recommendation. He seemed to have been quite take aback at my query. So he asked, "What do you need a letter of recommendation for?". To which I replied, "I have obtained a letter of recommendation from every lab I have worked as a research assistant, it's for my reference". Then, he said, "Your stint is till the 31st of March, why are you asking for a letter of recommendation this early?" Then I said that I wasn't asking for a LOR right away, but just a procedure to obtain one. I planned on asking him this early, just in case he was busy during that time of the year". Before approaching my major professor, I had asked his senior students for advice on this issue. Two of his senior most students told me that he was very good in writing supportive letters of recommendation for all of the students who had worked with him. My major professor is internationally renowned with numerous research publications in very high impact factor journals. My seniors told me that this was the first time in his entire career that he had asked a student to work with him. Usually, practically every student wants to work with him, and he takes only outstanding students, but in my case, since he had asked me, I couldn't refuse. After my conversation with him yesterday, I still feel like I am in a dilemma. I still do not understand if he is willing or unwilling to write me a letter of recommendation, and if does not want to write one, what might be his reason for his reluctance? Is it because he doesn't want to let go of me? In fact, he had asked me to stay with him for my PhD as well by telling me that he had many ideas for a long-term PhD project for me. I would be very grateful for insights and advices. Thanks in advance!

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