The chapter opens with the narrator's mother scolding her son for being cold to him. The narrator tells her that he has failed in his studies and that he will have to go back to the grocery store to get some food. He tells her he will not fail this time, because he will accept his own heart and not worry about his brother's kindness. He says that he still fears that his feelings for his brother will eventually lead to his relationship with the teacher. The teacher tells the narrator that his rival is ranked 13th in the country for the end-of-semester exams. He reminds the students that they will all be graduating from school in three years.