Chapter 12 Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
All claims are based on the text of Chapter 12 itself, so you can trust that everything here is grounded in the actual story.
Let's dive in.
Summary
The chapter opens with Ishu and Hani at dinner at a Middle Eastern restaurant. Ishu is initially worried that Hani, who is Bengali and Muslim, might not enjoy the unfamiliar cuisine, but she quickly becomes fascinated by Hani's expressive reactions to each bite. Hani explains that her parents rarely eat out and that her friends Aisling and Deirdre don't like what they call “ethnic food.” Ishu presses Hani on why she remains friends with people who have mocked her bisexuality, but Hani defends them, insisting they are good people who just needed time and perspective. Ishu backs off to avoid an argument in public.
Ishu then steers the conversation toward the prefect application. Hani says she hadn't planned to apply, but Ishu argues that it would look suspicious if she didn't, since they are supposed to be a couple supporting each other's campaigns. Ishu also points out that Hani is well-liked and could help rally support for Ishu's Head Girl bid. Hani mentions that Aisling and Dee suggested she apply for the international prefect position, but Ishu dismisses that idea, saying Hani could be prefect of anything she wants. Ishu slides a prefect application across the table, which Hani accepts, saying she'll think about it.
After dessert of baklava and coffee, they move to the Instagram photo selection. They review the pictures they took earlier and realize they look like friends, not a couple. Hani suggests they need to be more obvious, and they take a new photo with their hands linked, making sure the linked hands are front and center. Hani adds filters and hearts, and chooses a caption with song lyrics and multiple kissy faces. Ishu is skeptical but Hani assures her people will know they're together.
When the bill arrives, Ishu pays, even though they had agreed to split the cost. She reasons that Hani is doing all the Instagram work, and Ishu only has three followers anyway. As they leave, it's pouring rain. Hani pulls out a flimsy umbrella, but before they can use it, a sturdier umbrella appears overhead, held by Ishu's sister, who has apparently been watching them.
Key Events
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Ishu and Hani share a meal at a Middle Eastern restaurant, where Hani tries the food for the first time.
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Hani reveals her parents rarely eat out and that her friends dislike “ethnic food,” leading to a tense exchange about Aisling and Deirdre.
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Ishu convinces Hani to apply for prefect, arguing it will support Ishu's Head Girl campaign and make their fake relationship more believable.
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Ishu gives Hani a prefect application she picked up earlier.
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They review Instagram photos and decide they look too much like friends, so they take a new picture with linked hands.
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Hani chooses a caption with song lyrics and kissy faces, and Ishu pays for the meal despite their earlier agreement.
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As they leave, they encounter heavy rain, and Ishu's sister appears with a sturdy umbrella.
Character Development
This chapter deepens both main characters. Ishu's internal monologue reveals her growing attraction to Hani, though she tries to rationalize it as concern for the plan. She watches Hani eat with fascination, and her irritation at Aisling and Dee stems from genuine protectiveness, not just strategy. Ishu also shows a softer side when she pays for the meal and when she lets Hani take the lead on the Instagram post. Her strategic mind is on full display as she manipulates the prefect situation to benefit her campaign, but her actions also suggest she cares about Hani's potential beyond what Aisling and Dee envision.
Hani, meanwhile, is more defensive and conflicted. She insists her friends are good people, but her hesitation when discussing their views on “ethnic food” hints at internal doubt. She is also more assertive in the Instagram planning, taking charge of the photo and caption to ensure the fake relationship looks convincing. Her willingness to consider the prefect application shows she is open to Ishu's influence, even if she doesn't fully commit yet. The chapter ends with Hani's flimsy umbrella being replaced by Ishu's sister's sturdy one, a visual metaphor for the support system that Ishu's family might provide—though it also introduces a new complication.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Food as connection: The shared meal is a bonding experience. Hani's appreciation of Middle Eastern food contrasts with her friends' narrow palate, and Ishu's observation of Hani's expressive eating creates intimacy.
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Cultural identity and belonging: Hani's comment about “ethnic food” and her friends' dismissal of it highlights the tension between her cultural background and her social circle. Ishu's insistence that Hani could be prefect of anything challenges the limited role Aisling and Dee envision for her.
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Social media performance: The Instagram photo is a deliberate act of constructing a public image. The linked hands and kissy-face caption are performative, but they also blur the line between fake and real affection.
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Strategic manipulation: Ishu's argument for Hani to apply for prefect is framed as mutual support, but it's clearly calculated to boost her own campaign. This motif of using people for personal gain is central to the fake dating scheme.
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Family intervention: Ishu's sister's sudden appearance with an umbrella symbolizes an external force entering their carefully managed plan, suggesting that family will play a role in complicating or supporting the relationship.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 12 is pivotal because it solidifies the fake dating plan's public face. The Instagram post is the first concrete step in convincing the school that Hani and Ishu are a couple, and the chapter shows how much effort goes into maintaining that illusion. It also reveals Ishu's strategic thinking and her growing feelings for Hani, which she hasn't fully acknowledged. The prefect application subplot introduces a new layer of ambition and potential conflict, as Hani's decision will affect both their campaigns. Finally, the appearance of Ishu's sister at the end sets up a new source of tension—family involvement—that will likely challenge the fake relationship in future chapters. This chapter moves the plot forward while deepening the characters and their dynamic.
Study Questions and Answers
- Why does Ishu convince Hani to apply for prefect, and what does this reveal about her character?
Ishu argues that Hani's application will make their fake relationship more believable and that Hani's popularity can help Ishu's Head Girl campaign. This shows Ishu is pragmatic and willing to use people to achieve her goals, but it also reveals she believes in Hani's potential beyond what Aisling and Dee suggest. Her strategic mind is focused on the endgame, but her insistence that Hani could be prefect of anything hints at genuine respect.
- How does the Instagram photo scene illustrate the theme of performance in the novel?
The scene shows Hani and Ishu deliberately crafting an image to convince others they are a couple. They take a new photo with linked hands to make their relationship more obvious, and Hani adds filters, hearts, and a caption with song lyrics and kissy faces. This performance is necessary for their plan, but it also creates a space where real feelings might develop, blurring the line between acting and authenticity.
- What is the significance of Ishu's sister appearing with the umbrella at the end of the chapter?
The sister's arrival interrupts the private moment between Hani and Ishu, introducing a family member into their carefully controlled narrative. The sturdy umbrella contrasts with Hani's flimsy one, suggesting that Ishu's family might offer more solid support—or that they will interfere with the fake relationship. This moment sets up potential conflict and adds a new layer of complexity to the story.
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