pro faze clan manipulator here, this is how you gaslight professionally, you follow it up with “espresso, lattes, whatever” like you were continuing an invitation.

and if they haven’t left yet and follow that up with another “what?”

Then you try to clarify with one of these “like what coffee shop to go to? sorry but which part are you asking what about?” makes them sound like they weren’t paying attention and so they start questioning themselves, the trick is to look genuinely confused here by gaslighting yourself like you said something normal in the first place.

so two options here, since they’re still talking to you they’re probably going to say something like “Oh” or maybe they’ll try to clarify just so they don’t sound crazy or like they weren’t listening whatsoever “Oh I thought you said blank.”

if it’s the first, congratulations your in ground zero again, like an isekai character you regressed backwards in time so you can try again.

If it’s the second you can follow it up with, “Is that one of those things where you only listen to the things you want to hear?” and go from there.