Do you like when characters are aware of the tension between them, or completely oblivious to it?

I’ve noticed I tend to enjoy it more when there’s a bit of awareness in the tension between characters, even if they don’t fully act on it right away.

Like when one of them knows something is there and is trying to hold it together, or when it slowly builds instead of just jumping straight into it.

It just feels more real to me than when everything happens instantly without that buildup.

Curious what people prefer—more self-aware tension, or completely oblivious characters?