The Pythia's Cave

I have a dilemma.

You see, in Jordan I bought a gift for my friend Nicola's birthday (which was the 16th): since he's interested in biology, zoology and fossils I bought him from Petra and the desert two horns - thinking it was an original gift.

But, back in Italy and in Padua, some of my male friends told me that it could be misunderstood, because in Italy, to say that a man/woman was cheated on by his/her partner we say that he/she "has grown horns" - and moreover Nicola's former gf (the one before Betta) had in a way cheated on him.

But I didn't thought of this! My gift had been bought with good and innocent intentions!
This evening I went out with Nicola, Giovanni and Will and I wanted to give him the gift, but after Giovanni had warned me again (though he said that Nicola wouldn't probably think bad of me, since he's a good-tempered guy) I couldn't find the courage. So in the end I said goodbye without giving it to him.

I feel so conflicted now! 
On one side, I don't think Nicola would be offended;
on the other side, I don't want to risk it, since I had already offended Giovanni with his birthday's gift.

Damn, why are males so complicated?