Unhappy. The word hung heavy after Jefferson stopped speaking, in a way it hadn't when Agent Barnes had used it. Maybe because it was now less of an assumption on the mental state of a group at large and more of a value judgement he was expected to make on himself.
He remained still and unspeaking as Jefferson trimmed the front of his hair. Was he unhappy? Well, that was an unfair question, wasn't it. People were unhappy. Assets functioned, or they did not. There wasn't much more of a distinction.
But he was by definition not happy.
So did he say yes, or did he ask for clarification? Did asking for clarification indicate a flaw? The question made him nervous. Not fidgety nervous, but nervous enough that it made his muscles tense. What did he say? What was he supposed to say?
It took a very long time before he opened his mouth and said what he thought was the most appropriate, accurate answer: "I don't know."