So there's this girl I went to middle school with that I recently added on Instangram. She grew up to be real cute, we're both in our twenties. So today, I mustered my courage and contacted her for small talk by commenting on one of her stories and said that it would've been a crime not to tell her how beautiful she is now (kinda cheesy, I know, but in Italy you pretty much must be). She was entertained by the joke so we talked a bit, I asked how she was doing, if she was studying or working, told her what I was studying, ecc.

So we chatted for a while but since I can't just ask her out after I haven't seen her in years I tried to keep the conversation going a bit by asking if she also is practicing any sports or has any hobbies... You know, the usual stuff. By that point, she has seen the message but did not answer, so I guess she's lost interest. As I'm writing it's been only a few hours, so (even though I doubt it) I don't know if she'll actually answer by the end of the day or something.

Still, even if she were to answer, it's not like the question in the title it's not a legittimate one. I'm not the type to contact girls I don't know or haven't seen in a while online, at least I don't do it often. But when I do and that "seen" appears without an answer I really don't know how to handle that sort of stuff. Should I insist in some kind of way right away or keep contacting the girl for small talks after a few days have passed? Address the fact that she did not answer and asking if I'm bothering her? I'd really like to think that "giving up" in that situation is not the only course of action and that there are some tricks to keep the conversation going. What do you think, men of Reddit?