should i hook up?

I'm kind of the same like you (will be 23 next month) and i also started to be more outgoing once i hit 20-21. The only way people will see you as cold or distant is if you act like that towards them. Inteligent people will know the difference between shy and cold. What matters most is how you feel about yourself, because that is how you are going to be portrayed as. If you're not comfertable in your own skin people will notice it. If you are just calm and open people will feel save around you even if you are a tad bit shy. I taught myself to be more social and have used those skills to also talk to women with the intention of getting laid. I have had sex with people just for the sake of having sex, and at least for me its not the way to go. It can be exiting and it depends on what kind of person you are, but most of the time during the sex i can go along with the lustfull feelings, but when we're done i just feel like i have defiled myself. I always wanna get away as fast as possible. Now i try to only have sex with a girl that really has my interrest and liking, that way sex is so much more awesome. Afterwards instead of wanting to leave i just want to stay with that person and be affectioned with them.

I would abstain from lustful sex, unless your the kind of person that isn't bothered by it. For me i will try to wait along till i find a girl that i really like (no waiting for marriage or anything like that tho XD). Ofcourse, if i would be presented with an opportunity to have sex with a hot girls right now i probably wouldn't pass it, but i also wouldn't put any energy into trying to get her to have sex with me. I only enjoy it for that moment and later always regret it. So it really depends on what kind of person you are and how you feel about sex in general.