Okay so i was a beta my whole life, beta traits and everything, i was chubby and people pleaser.. all of that changed when i turned 18 (i’m 19 now) and i got skinnier cause i changed my diet, read a lot of books and i have applied alpha traits these two years and i’ve gotten more attractive, everyone that knows me from back then tells me the same that i’m really handsome now

So today these two girls flirted with me, the first girl was sitting in front of me while i was talking to my friends and we were talking about something and she said “i didn’t understand” and i said “because you wasn’t paying attention” and she said “i was distracted by your beauty” and i just smiled and kept talking with the group

Then i was walking to school with this other girl and she grabbed my arm, then passed her hand through my neck and said “you are so cute” and i smiled and i didn’t know what to respond so i just said “i know” probably stupid thing to say.. probably not i don’t really know

My question is: how do i respond to flirting, should i flirt back and validate her and tell her she’s beautiful after she told me i’m cute???