Awkward situations often are the result of somone being an asshat ("AH").  AHs, like most rational people, try to avoid confrontation where they can.  In this case, confrontation in the form of the other person asking why the AH was in fact an AH.  This implies that the AH has some sort of conscience, even if AH did do asshatty things.

I don't think I have a point to this.  It's late and I'm going to sleep.