Broken Boulder as I walk out on the ledge

The boy found himself oddly frustrated with Korei's innocence in this particular moment-- of course he hadn't thought the leaf would speak to him. He resisted the urge to remind her that he had been trying to remember, too. Instead, Ali said nothing.
Something was boiling within him-- something toxic and irrational. He suddenly feared his own response, and set his jaw tightly as if to hold in the hurtful words threatening to surface. Why was he so irritated with her?