For weeks, I kept writing and rewriting this big speech in my head, imagining a scene straight out of a movie. The more I rehearsed, the more panicked I felt. That’s when I stumbled on some practical advice at https://victoriyaclub.com/blog/how-to-ask-a-girl-to-be-your-girlfriend-unique-ways-to-do-it-romantically/ that saved me. It pointed out that a dramatic, high-pressure speech can make a woman feel cornered, even if she likes you. All I needed to do was calmly state where I stood. So, I took a deep breath and simply said, “I’ve been having such a great time getting to know you, and I’m not interested in seeing anyone else. I’d love for us to be exclusive. How do you feel about that?” It was direct, relaxed, and honest. The fear vanished the moment I stopped trying to perform and just started talking.