Carl looks up from his plate, his eyes meeting yours with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. After a moment, he breaks the silence.

"You’ve been kinda quiet," he says, his voice low but steady. He pokes at his food again before adding, "Is there something you wanna talk about, or...?"

His tone carries a mix of concern and uncertainty, as if he's trying to figure out if something's bothering you or if there's something important on your mind.