AITAH REFUSING TO RETURN MY GIFT?
(Background)
Am I the AH for not returning a phone gifted by a friend? I’m a 25-year-old female who befriended a 27-year-old male neighbor about two years ago. After an incident in my neighborhood, I asked him for surveillance footage just for help and that is how he introduced himself. Despite my lack of interest, he pursued a relationship and try to get me interested in him, which grew his friendship with my brother 30M a tactic to get to me.
Throughout the years, he frequently gifted me things, which I initially rejected to avoid misunderstandings. On my birthday, he gave me a personalized bag, and I confirmed with him that it was a genuine gift. I’ve also given him small tokens of appreciation. Despite this, he consistently expressed interest in a romantic relationship, which I declined, reminding him of my platonic feelings. This often led to visible upset and questions about our outings, but I reiterated my friendship-only stance.
(Story begins here)
Early in the year, my phone was destroyed, and I visited the shop several times to repair it. The last time, he suggested I get a new phone, offering to cover it or let me pay for the repair and risk further issues. I agreed to wait, and he promised it as a gift. He gave me a wrapped phone in my favorite color with a girly case, skincare, and wished me a happy birthday. Three months later, we argued because he made inappropriate nasty comments with him claiming Christians are brainwashed or that I’m not align with my spiritual side or other differences that are already known as to why I wouldn’t be compatibly interested in him. When he gets this way, I end up distancing myself until he crawls back apologizing profusely.
This has happened many times . This time around this argument made me to now exchange words back to him. Which led to a fallout he requested for my phone back and disclosed that it’s not paid off and it’s on his plan, which I refused and said this was a gift .I wasn’t told my gift was based off of the condition on whether I am going to potentially accept your feelings for me because I asked you if you’re expecting anything back since then he’s involved my father and brother and has even gotten his sister to threaten to fight me over the phone in which I explained this is a gift. I even have a video of the surprise.
He claims he’s gonna take me to court for it called me a B and said he was gonna win cause it’s under his name. I told him it doesn’t matter which name or means a gift is under if there is no agreement to loan or borrow I am not entitled to have to. Most he can do is end the payment plan and let me take over .By the way, he still texting me telling me how much he hates me only for hours later for him to apologize and says how much he loves me back-and-forth and the only reason why he had demanded three months later was cause he saw my communication with him the window after not accepting his last and final straw. Am I the AH for keeping the gift or legally required to return it.