[ Phew! Kalim nods in agreement: he does care what they think, broadly, but not about this.

He manages to smile. ]

Right... I mean, you can be pretty convincing, haha! If you'd just disappeared back before winter break I never would've thought... Well... You know.

[ He trails off, looking at his hands. He also wouldn't have ever stopped looking, but that doesn't seem like it would be helpful to say or think about. ]