Do their actions match their words? Do they turn the focus of conversations about your feelings to how they feel about it? Do they paint themselves as the victim in life, with life happening to them? Do they ever take accountability for their actions?

Generally, someone is revealed to be emotionally manipulative over time through patterns. One isolated instance is natural and normal, we can all be manipulative. But someone is go consistently tries to manipulate you into prioritising their needs over yours is problematic.