If a girl said is that how you asked for a date what would you say back to her?

[Anonymous]

5 years ago at my same job that i have now i met this girl before she went to her first year of college.

we had a thing for each other i knew when her birthday was i got her a gift card one day i give it to her she said is this how you asked for a date i was just trying to be nice as i did not have the balls to asked her out she would not take the gift card she just said she would feel bad about taking my money.

what should i have said?
after she said is this how you asked for a date

[Guy13]

No woman wants to be bribed by a cheap ass gift card to go on a date…. That stunt put you at least one month of “good sense or normal” observation before having right to ask out…

[Asker]

We talked for months it was not a bribed I know her birthday was so i give her a gift card