why are there people just hit you back with short, one-liner replies?

I don’t know if it’s just me being too friendly or maybe a bit too bubbly, but why are there people you genuinely want to connect with like you’re putting in the effort to be nice and keep the convo going but they just hit you back with short, one-liner replies?

For example, my boyfriend’s youngest sister is like this. She’s 20, I’m 28.. maybe it’s an age gap thing? Or am I just trying too hard? Sometimes she seems interested, but then the convo just dies, and it’s like... "crickets." I also don’t want to keep pushing by asking a million questions that just feels awkward.

Another time, I bumped into an old high school friend at a christening. Tried catching up – asked about work, life, all that – and again, it was just one-question, one-answer vibes. It’s not like I’m grilling them or anything – I just genuinely want to chat!

It’s weird because I’m used to convos that just flow naturally. With most people, it’s a back-and-forth thing, but with some, it’s like hitting a wall. It makes me wonder – do they not want to talk to me? Are they just introverted? Or do they really just pick who they vibe with?

Anyone else deal with this? Is it just their personality, or is it something about me? How do you handle convos like this without feeling like you’re trying too hard?