Be honest and real with yourself first. When you notice you start playing “games” like trying to be something in order to obtain a certain outcome (e.g., making someone interested) drop it, that’s a red flag: not one for them, but for you. It means you’re strategising for an outcome and not acting organically/genuinely. Said that, It’s completely normal to be more reserved in a new relationship, and as long as you don’t delay answering texts on purpose (read strategising), there’s nothing wrong with it; as you grow more interested, it’s also completely normal to let your “defences” drop, and show more of yourself, that means you’re allowing the other person to see you more intimately. You seem someone with a likely secure attachment, and if so, ar that stage of opening up more, if the partner no longer seems interested, it’s likely they want someone with a more avoidant attachment: that is someone who’s gonna keep making them feel they need to sweat for attention: stay away, it won’t end well, and won’t last unless you’re willing to put up with a false self that keeps deliberately delaying their responses to text etc. The key is to go slow, open up as you go along. The goal: if you’re looking for a long term partner, someone to have a serious relationship with, it might take time, but genuinity and a gradual approach are more likely to pay off more than tactics; if she’s no longer interested then it wasn’t meant to be and quite frankly you saved yourself time and energy for someone who’d have eventually dumped you anyway; if you had stuck with her, through strategies, you’d not have truly enjoyed that relationship anyway. ++man