Why he went quiet after asking for your number

After he asks for your number, give him roughly 24 to 48 hours to text. Life gets busy and there's a small window between the high of getting your number and actually opening his phone to message. If nothing comes by day three, he's either not actually interested or he was collecting contact info without a plan.

If it's been five to seven days, he's telling you something without words. Guys who want to move forward don't sit on a number they just asked for. He asked because it felt like the next step in the conversation, not because he actually wanted to talk to you outside the app. This is when you accept that and redirect your energy.

If it's been three to four days and you want to give it a real shot, you can text him first. But don't send a tentative 'hey'. Instead, reference something specific from your conversation on the app. Something concrete gives him an easy way to respond and shows you were actually paying attention. This works only if you really want to restart the momentum, not because you're hoping he'll suddenly come alive.

If you do text and he responds, great. If you text and he takes another day or two to reply, or his answers stay short, he's not that interested. At that point, you're chasing. Stop.

If a week has passed since he asked for your number, assume he's not going to text. Don't send a follow-up. Don't check the app to see if he's been active. Just move forward. The guy who asks for your number and then ghosts has already shown you how he handles things. Even if he texts you later, he's shown you that you're low priority.

If you texted him first and he went quiet again after that, the decision is made. Don't text twice. After one follow-up with nothing back, he's had his chance. The goal is to spend your time and energy on people who are actually engaging, not to prove your worth to someone who already disappeared.