24M virgin 3 exes but never had sex. Last relationship in 2022. It was a mistake to be in it cuz I was already depressed and dating a satan took a toll on me.

2024 end: asked out a girl , super nervous, sweating and awkward but I wanted to just ask out.

2025 first half: found out a girl I met in concert few years ago on Insta​gram and approached her, got a date. THe date went well and we talked for 2 hours. I Was still awkward at end and said some stupid things. NExt day she said she doesn't feel for me that way so left it there.

After that never approached anyone.

I am told I am good looking by friends and people around me. ANd I somehow believe them because I was ugly in school and during lockdown depression, so I know how ugly people are treated (basically I was just fat). Get the stares from women in public places mostly malls. My friend tells me that few girls are checking me out.

And I was not this awkward guy. In 2019 I was in 1st year of college and approached random girls on public transport. And I am in India, so doing that here was totally awesome for me because of the way I pulled it off.

My mistake is always, that I come off as desperate. I chat too much or either too distant. Like I really don't know what's in the middle.

This year I am not going to be single. I have made a promise to myself, that I will approach 5 girls a week, that's 260 girls a year. Can get me to 1-2 girls in end if we consider 1-2% success rate for beginners. I am basically a beginner again due to this depression and lockdown buffer.

So my main question is, I come of as toooo persistent. How do I cool it off? If I cool it off I come off as toooo distant. That's a turn off again. And if I straight out ask on a date that's too forward. Should I still straight out ask for a date or build up with chatting because chatting is exhausting tbh.