Well, that works if it is, in fact, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but if it is ...
Say it's the kind of thing where if you apologize, it'll be no big deal, but if I bring it up and you don't feel inspired to apologize, I will not ever want to overlap in social space with you again. Then there's a certain motivation for me not to want to bring it up, lest you say, "Oh, yeah, whatever. *handwave*" At least before I open the box, there's the possibility that you'd respond "right", and therefore, I can continue to have casual social contact with you.
no subject
Say it's the kind of thing where if you apologize, it'll be no big deal, but if I bring it up and you don't feel inspired to apologize, I will not ever want to overlap in social space with you again. Then there's a certain motivation for me not to want to bring it up, lest you say, "Oh, yeah, whatever. *handwave*" At least before I open the box, there's the possibility that you'd respond "right", and therefore, I can continue to have casual social contact with you.
(PS - "you" is generic here, obviously :)