A gift comes every payday
I said I wouldn’t accept it, but every payday they offer me a gift again. I turned it down once, so why does the conversation start over every time?
The same coworker offers Harin a gift every payday, even after she turned him down. Each time, Harin wonders what to say, and in the counseling room she and Suho look at the pattern together.
At lunch, Harin’s coworker Minjae says he’ll send her a payday gift without asking first. Harin says she won’t accept it, but the same offer comes again the next month. In the counseling room, Harin shows Suho the messages, and he points out that the offers continued after she said no. Harin hasn’t decided what to reply that day.
When an offer comes after you’ve said no
When the same offer comes again after you’ve turned it down, you can first consider whether your boundary was respected, before wondering if it was meant kindly.
If you’ve received the same offer after turning it down, what did the other person say?
The moment the gift came up again after she’d said she wouldn’t accept it stayed with me. When an offer keeps coming after you’ve said no, choosing how to respond can end up back on Harin’s shoulders. If you’ve been through something similar, you’re welcome to share what they said to you and who was there.
Scenes
- 01 · The offer comes first The offer came first — At lunch on payday, Minjae holds out the gift screen and says he’ll send this month’s gift. Minjae: I’ll send you a gift this payday. Harin: No, I don’t accept things like that.
- 02 · The reply after she says no I won’t accept it — Harin tells Minjae she won’t accept the gift. Minjae nods. Harin: You don’t have to accept it. I’ll just take it as a kind thought. Minjae: Okay.
- 03 · Another notification The next month, too — The same offer came again on payday the next month. Harin shows the screen to Suho. Harin: I said I wouldn’t accept it, but now he says he’ll send a gift again. Suho: It feels more unsettling because it came up again after you’d said no. What did you say then?
- 04 · A reply still unsent No reply yet — Harin sets her phone on the table without writing a reply. The gift offer is still on the screen. Suho: Harin, what part of those words is making you pause this time? Harin: If I just say thanks, he’ll send one again, won’t he?
Stories by Suho
- Suho
- Someone I’d seen online was standing outside my home.
- I keep thinking about that call after the work dinner.
- After work, I’m standing at the door, and I need to change who can see my account.
- After my appointment, an offer to work together came in.
- I check the hate comments again, even after putting my child to bed.
- When I wake up, today’s plans are already decided.
- On the first night, should I open the door when someone says we have a mutual friend?
- Every lunch break, when I’m alone, I want to know who they really are.