There wasn’t really a reason to mention it. Curiously enough, neither of you had avoided the topic before, since such an unintentionally harsh reminder hadn’t come up—until now.

It was a quiet evening after you and your friends had attended a festival on your university campus. Afterward, the group all went to a nearby restaurant. Ness hadn’t gone to the festival as a student—he wasn’t enrolled—but, like a few others at the table who were close to your friends, he had been invited by you to keep you company.

The topic of family came up, and now everyone at the table was sharing their family experiences... just wonderful. Neither of you said much; your relationships with your parents weren’t exactly good, and he hadn’t really interacted with his family since becoming independent.

Endearing enough, despite feeling out of place, there was an unspoken understanding between you about why each other’s silence lingered. He didn’t look tense; just awkward as he continued eating the food he had ordered.