We really need to understand that flirting before marriage is just gonna block our mind from thinking rationally and we will not be able to look for values and beliefs we always wanted in our partner. It would be our heart making decision not our mind which made us regret later.
Kinda same thing happened with me. I was desperately wanting something in my life. All of my prayers were specific to get that thing but Allah didn't give me as He knows what's best for me and it really was The best for me, ALHAMDULILLAH!
four years ago i wanted smth really bad like every waking second i would make dua, tahajjud and istikharah everything you could think of for two things and i had full tawwakul but khayr it was not meant for me and it broke me because i felt like i wasn’t doing enough