How to Date a Girl - A Gentleman's Guide

Chapter 8 - When to ask her out

There are a few points to consider for yourself before you ask her the ultimate question:

#1: Have you gained enough experience points? 

If you have meshed in with her everyday life that her talking with you seems like most natural thing to do, then that's good. If you know so much about her that she is confident to call you her best friend and you can recite her favorite phrases as natural as breathing, even better.

I have used the term experience points because getting to her is like any MMORPG game, you train yourself by getting to know her well, collect the best equipment out there to present yourself better to her, and to level up to the point that you can face the final boss and beat it to claim your rewards, which is her sweet Yes. It is very important to obtain as much experience points as possible - the more you have, the more chances of winning. And gaining too much helps you more, so be sure to work hard for those XP.

(Not comparing her to a game though, she's not something to be played with.)

#2: Have you known her long enough?

If you have answered the first question well, then you should've probably invested a long time for those experience points. The least amount of time that you should've expended is... eight months. Anything less than that still doesn't qualify you to complete the quest. It takes a very long amount of time because it takes days, months, even years to build a strong bond between the two of you and to create precious memories of each other. A good analogy of it would be your high school friends. You can't proudly say that you have known everything about them until you have graduated. It takes at least 4-6 years to understand them and read them like a book, that a simple eye contact is enough. If you have reached at least a year of knowing her and you still feel that you have only scratched the surface, don't hesitate to extend the time limit. You may have other competitors and they only took months to ask her the question, but you can feel confident that you know her the most that you know what her answer to them might be. 

#3: Are you ready?

I know you are ready, because by making it to this question means that you have answered the previous ones. And don't try to skip the other questions please, don't try to cheat yourself. 

Ask yourself this question everyday, so that you are confident that you'll be able to handle the consequences when she answers your question. 

- Are you ready to handle a relationship? 

- Are you ready to be her knight in shining armor? 

- Are you ready to be rejected? 

- Are you ready to enter the friendzone? 

Imagine every circumstance possible, and plan the most suitable answers to them. It is never a bad thing to be extremely prepared. 

If you have answered the questions above with certainty, then you can safely say that you are all set. To make sure that you get her in the right mood, set everything up. Invite her out to an amusement park (not a mall, so cliche) and make her feel as happy as you want her to be. Then just as about you are about to go home, set up one last event - a special place between the two of you is perfect. Then ask her the question: 

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(oh, and kneel, for a better dramatic effect)

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*insert name here*, Will you be my girlfriend? 

Be as confident as possible, because you have faced many trials to stand where you are right now, and the moment of truth is upon you. Face her with a firm resolve and embrace what happens next.

If she decides that she needs a few days to answer, then say "I understand" and still treat her as you always do. Don't assume anything just yet, you still haven't heard the answer. Just believe in the hard work that you've put and you can expect great results.

When she does answer, face it like a man. If she rejects you, then understand that she had carefully thought it out and you just weren't lucky. Ask her if you still have a chance, if she says yes, then that's an Extra Life that you should use with extreme care - you have just asked her out, don't ask her again as soon as possible because it only means that you still have a long ways to go. If she answers that she just can't possibly see the two of you together, accept it and thank her for answering honestly. Do not be ashamed by that rejection, it has molded you into an ideal man. If then she decides to give you the cold shoulder, try to reflect if you should go for one last push or to raise the white flag completely. If you do raise it, call me up and I'll listen to everything that you have in mind, a Smirnoff in hand should ease up your mind about it.

If she does utter the sweet Yes that you've been hoping for, it is acceptable to act like a monkey and shout it out to the whole world. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration but it is perfectly fine to be as happy as possible. You have just won her over. Congratulations, your blood, sweat, and tears have finally paid off. Her sweet smile is now exclusively yours. 

Not to burst your bubble, but your journey may have completed, but a new one just started. You now tread the path of making her the happiest woman alive, and keeping her is a lot harder than getting her. You will experience more trials than you have experienced before, so be prepared. But one thing is for certain, she is now yours.