You're hard to talk to, Zayne said after a moment.Offended, I glared at him. No, I'm not.Okay, let me rephrase that. You're argumentative.No, I'm not.Zayne stared at me, as if me arguing with him just then was proof enough of what he claimed.It sort of proof of what he claimed, and that irritated me.
Zayne expresses his frustration in a conversation by saying that the protagonist is difficult to communicate with. This statement sparks a defensiveness in the protagonist, who immediately denies the claim and insists she is not problematic. Despite her protests, Zayne quickly reframes his statement to describe her as argumentative, which further annoys her.
The exchange highlights the tension in their relationship, as the protagonist’s instinctive reaction suggests an underlying awareness of her own argumentative nature. Zayne's observation, seemingly proven by her response, frustrates her, indicating a conflict between self-perception and external perception.
