So I decided to go out drinking on a Thursday instead of staying at home. Had a couple on the local dive bar. The place knows me, and they know me as the quiet guy... and for some reason people just acts all awkward around me when the mutual people we know is not around(weird thing is when our mutual friends is there, they all seem to be very friendly and receptive of me). Anyways I downed 2 beers and left.

Moved to another bar in the neighboring city. Place was empty at first so I decided to surf reddit on my phone. Stayed on it as the place filled up. At some point I was surrounded by women and I was that only guy in the bar hunched over his phone. I start to notice that people seem to be putting me at a certain category. The more I just sit there and just drink, the more that I seem to be supporting this formed perception these people have (the quiet lonely guy drinking by himself). I was actually killing time waiting on a friend to get off work. After a couple of drink, I decided to bounce. Also because the venue felt like it got cold on me.

As I was walking to the lounge that I am gonna meet my buddy, I decided I'm gonna do a little experiment. I will try to go in a bar in a different posture, body language, etc...

the first 2 bars, I walked in straight to the bar after the door man almost like I'm going there with a purpose (to drink). On this one, I decided to casually walk in. Upright posture, Almost like I'm taking in the room, I greet the bouncer as I walk in, Give everyone a big smile, Basically make it seem like I am going there to celebrate something. Found an HB7.5. 7.5 because she's petite. Not really knocking it its just that petite girls are a fetish for me at most. But when I walked in, I figure I should engage ASAP. I learned how places get cold pretty quick if you don't engage right away. I also remembered the "do it for the next girl" mentality. So I went to HBPetite's left. I got acknowledged by a female bartender right away with the "one moment" finger. I responded with a louder somewhat confident tone "take your time" as I smiled at her. HB petite turned to look at me and I automatically met her glanced, smiled at her, and said "you're alone." I said in a plain stating manner not as a question. I did all of this as if I've known her in a long time (I remembered the "act as if" speech in that one movie I can't remember). She said she's meeting some friends later. I warned her that between now and then some geeky creep might start hitting on her. She laughed and got excited "Oh my gawd I'm geeky too!" So we shot shit talking about star wars and lord of the rings. I'm just basically trying to warm myself up. Peppered some compliments because I wasn't seriously going for a game but just having her for a warm up. That's when she asked me if I wanna move to the couches since it was too noisy in the bar (she's isolating me, made me think she's trying to game me). As we were about to sit down, I told her that she's really cool and my phone is dying right now so might as well get your number now rather than let it play out for later. She gave it to me without hesitating... like its just the natural flow of things. (Achievement unlocked: #-close in less than 5 minutes) She mentioned she read a lot of books, I responded with a playful "check". She excused herself to the bathroom, and I decided for myself I'm going for a k-close tonight. Then as she was on her way back to our couch, her friends arrived...

I noticed that they are all dudes, straight AFCs. One was a track jacket wearing urbanite type, 2 was wearing a hoodie a couple size too large for them, and one who seems to be starting out in the seduction thing (I just kinda had that vibe on him). I saw all of this from across the room since our couch was facing the door (thank you Godfather). "Oh boy, here we go". I told myself as I watch her point to our couch. Her purse was on the couch so I didn't move. She came back and told me they all wanted to hang out at the bar. I didn't push the issue of staying on the couch because I figured its gonna be a lose/lose situation. Also made me think that this girl obviously have these guys around her for validation. As we were walking back to the bar I figured, "ok, I'll bite". Soon as we got to the bar, I went ahead and introduced myself to everyone. Started some small talks... you know shot the shit. I noticed there's a group of women behind me (5 of them I think). So I made a comment about it on the guys. Nobody wanted to make a move. I noticed HB petite disappeared and started talking to track suit. So I went to order my drink, turned to the 5 girl table and made eye contact with HB latina. Smiled at her, raised my glass with a slight nod, and drank the remaining of my almost warm beer. As soon as bartender gave me a fresh set of beer, I walked straight to HB latina's table. I opened with "What's going on here. Looks like you guys are having a blast" (they weren't). But they all perked up when I approached and engaged them. Apparently HB latina's friend, HB curly is celebrating her birthday. Flirted with her a little just to get a laugh/smile out of her (it did). I guessed her age low. I said 22, she definitely is in her late 20s. As I was engaging this table I saw HB petite hovering around while talking to the hoodie brothers (they weren't brothers). Track suit and PUA guy tried joining in the conversation. I didn't have to do anything since their approach was weak (and creeptastic) basically the girls shut them down themselves. I was entertaining their table and they asked my name. They introduced themselves, I shook all their hands while saying my name on repeat. HB latina, mac and cheese, HB curly, tater tots, and ice cream. As I was shaking ice cream's hand, I changed my name to Ron Paul. Which got a good laugh out of the table. I saw HB petites group of validation splintering off. Track suit and PUA was hovering on the group so I introduced them to Mac and Cheese and HB curly (and again they shut themselves out in less than 3 minutes). I actually did it to take attention of the table away from me since I was trying to get to HB latina. It worked. After the rest of the table turned their attention to them, I started talking to HB latina. After the guys left, the table fractured in to independent conversations leaving me and Latina talking together. I noticed that they have been in the bar for 30 minutes and there's only 2 glasses of water on the table. So I asked latina about her drink. She said she's driving, after telling me she just lives right down the street. She stammers a little upon remembering that detail and told me that she will have to drive her friends Curly, Mac and Cheese, and Tater tots home. Which involves crossing the bridge and a toll gate. All through out my conversation I still kept tabs on Petite. She's been eyeing me like a hawk while I talk to these girls. My bullshit meter on latina just went off. I figured, these girls are freeloaders. Going to bars to get free drinks. Latina and Curly are the bait... tater tots, mac and cheese and ice cream are the switches. So I made eye contact to petite. Waved at her and went to her direction. I told latina "I'll be right back". Went over to petite and gave her a waist hug from the back. She was surprised but was receptive. I whispered in her ear "I'm leaving". She turned around and gave me a hug.

And I lived fappily ever after.

The end...

Here's my question. I know it was wrong of me to assume that Petite got those guys around her for validation, or the enthusiastic birthday crowd is just trolling for free drinks. How do I get past that limiting belief? I would hate to admit that seduction was the reason why I'm this jaded (probably a residue of me dabbling in that PUA thing in the past). I'm trying to adopt a "reject nothing accept everything and show gratitude" kind of perception. It just sucks when that feeling of being used starts creeping in. I really hope I was right and me not just being paranoid/having trust issues.