It's the narrator's first time seeing the sunbae's troubled expression. She's always cheerful and elegant, but this time she's worried about what she'll do if she doesn't get into college. She worries that her parents and grandfather will be surprised to find out that she didn't do well on the entrance exams. The narrator reassures her by saying that it's okay to fail on purpose, since it will help her move forward with confidence in her own goals.