i am 31 m INTJ, technically (but NEVER mentally) incel. (picking girls at the bar/party is not my thing and i am super-short - 160 cms brown guy....so i guess that explains it)

i am usually quite good at striking up a conversation but making a move is not my cup of tea...

approached someone over the weekend, it went well but did not go for the number. something similar just happened:

she was sitting in uni courtyard with friends, super-cute...after her friends left, i mustered up a courage: 'sorry, this is a bit random but can i compliment you for something?' she looked uncertain slightly annoyed as well but said 'yes'... 'i noticed you when you were sitting with your friends and you looked really cute with the sun on your face' she gave me a nice smile and said 'thank you'.... ( maybe i heard someone giggling in the background and that unnerved me even more )

i continued 'whats your name', she answered and i continued with my name... by this time i was just too conscious of the people around (maybe being a person of colour somehow doesnot help in these situations - here in central EU)

i kind of ran out of the steam 'it was very nice meeting you... have a nice day'

i guess if i am lucky i might just run into her some other day at uni but not counting on it.. question:

  1. what should i have done differently
  2. complimenting someone is one thing but how to ask for a number? for me, initiating a cold approach is easier than asking for number