"It's about a boy living during the war and what he felt like, his dad went to fight so it's just him and his eomma." He had to get up in front of the class soon and talk about the book but he was three chapters in and his stomach was queasy. He bit his lower lip and lowered his head. Why was he too stupid to do this? He had to try harder. Kangwoo was reading books like this at his age. Kangwoo could read books like this in Japanese when he was his age.

"I--I could read it to you if you want." Jiho turned his head, looking at Tae and trying not to look as nervous as he was. "You can come sit on my bed. This once. Doesn't mean you can always, yeah? Don't get cocky."