The dawn light filtered through the smudged windows of Noryangjin-dong's high school, painting the classroom in pale gold as Jang Taesan slid into his desk, his frayed backpack slumping beside him. The air carried the faint hum of fluorescent lights and the chatter of students, but Taesan's mind was elsewhere, caught in the web of his past life's memories and the future he was determined to forge. It was his eighth day back in 2008, and the weight of his second chance pressed against him like a physical force. Every CSAT question, every stock market trend, every failure and triumph from his previous life burned in his mind, a double-edged sword of knowledge that both empowered and haunted him.
He opened his notebook, its pages already filled with meticulous notes—not from classes, but from his future memory. Dates of market surges, tech startups that would skyrocket, political shifts that would ripple through the economy—they were all there, a roadmap to an empire. But the weight of that knowledge was heavy. Knowing what was coming didn't erase the challenges of navigating high school, Min-soo Kang's lingering threat, or the mystery of why he'd been sent back to 2008 after saving Emma Kim.
In history class, Ms. Park called on him to answer a question about the Korean War, and Taesan responded with a precision that left her blinking in surprise. "Well done, Jang," she said, her tone tinged with curiosity. Whispers spread among his classmates, and Sophie Leclerc's sharp gaze lingered from across the room, her pencil tapping thoughtfully. Taesan ignored the attention, but it was becoming harder to stay under the radar. His sudden brilliance was drawing eyes, and not all of them were friendly.
At lunch, he sat alone in the cafeteria, sketching out a timeline of investments in his notebook—Samsung's rise, Bitcoin's early days, the 2010 tech boom. The clatter of trays and the hum of voices faded as he calculated, his mind racing with possibilities. A shadow fell over his table, and he looked up to see Han Do-jin, his crooked grin as infectious as ever.
"Yo, Taesan, you're gonna burn a hole through that notebook," Do-jin said, dropping into the seat across from him. "What's with the intense vibe? You planning a heist or something?"
Taesan closed the notebook, forcing a laugh. "Just studying, man. Gotta ace the CSAT." He couldn't tell Do-jin the truth—not about his death, his rebirth, or the future he was plotting. The sight of his friend, alive and oblivious to the tragedy awaiting him in the original timeline, tightened Taesan's chest. I'll save you this time, he vowed silently.
Do-jin leaned forward, his grin fading. "Seriously, though. You're different lately. Smarter, tougher, like… I don't know, like you're on a mission. What's up?"
Taesan met his gaze, the weight of his knowledge pressing harder. "Just tired of screwing up," he said, the words carrying more truth than he meant to reveal. "I want to get it right this time."
Do-jin studied him, then nodded, clapping his shoulder. "Fair enough. Just don't turn into a robot, okay? Let's kick the ball around later. You need a break."
Taesan smiled, but his mind was already elsewhere. Min-soo Kang's absence today was a relief, but it wouldn't last. The bully's threat—"This isn't over, Jang"—echoed like a warning bell. Taesan needed to be ready, physically and mentally, for whatever came next.
After school, he headed to Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy, the familiar ache in his muscles a testament to his progress. The dojang was alive with the sharp thwack of kicks and the rhythmic shouts of effort, the air thick with sweat and determination. Master Choi stood at the center, his grizzled face stern as he guided a pair of senior students through a sparring drill. Taesan slipped into his dobok, its fabric less stiff now, molding to his body like a second skin.
"Jang! Focus!" Choi barked as Taesan fumbled a side kick, his balance still shaky. "You're thinking too much. Let your body move!"
Taesan gritted his teeth, sweat stinging his eyes, and tried again. The memory of Min-soo's shock when he'd landed that jab in the alley fueled him, but so did the weight of his future knowledge. Every kick was a step toward invincibility, every block a defiance of his past failures. Across the mat, Noah Park practiced with the same dogged determination, his lanky frame less awkward now, his kicks sharper. Taesan caught his eye, offering a nod, and Noah returned it, a quiet bond forming between them.
Choi introduced a new drill—sparring with light contact, testing reflexes and control. Taesan paired with Hye-jun, the wiry senior who'd teased him last session. "Ready to eat mat, newbie?" Hye-jun grinned, bouncing on his toes.
"Try me," Taesan said, his voice steady, his stance rooted. Hye-jun came at him with a quick jab, but Taesan blocked, his movements clumsy but instinctive, drawing on Choi's lessons. He countered with a low kick, grazing Hye-jun's shin, earning a surprised grunt. It wasn't perfect, but it was progress—a spark of the fighter he was becoming.
As the session ended, Noah approached, wiping his brow. "You're getting good, Taesan," he said, his shy smile genuine. "How do you keep pushing like that?"
Taesan hesitated, the weight of his knowledge pressing again. "Just… got a lot to prove," he said, keeping it vague. "You're not doing bad yourself. Keep at it, Noah."
Noah's eyes lit up, a flicker of confidence breaking through. "Thanks, man. Maybe we'll both be beasts someday."
Choi's voice cut through. "Jang! Park! Less chatting, more training tomorrow!" They bowed, sharing a quick grin, and Taesan felt the spark of connection deepen. Noah wasn't the tech genius yet, but he was a seed Taesan could nurture—an ally for the future.
Walking home under Noryangjin's neon glow, the stars faint against the city's electric haze, Taesan felt the weight of his knowledge like a mantle. It was power, but it was also a burden—knowing Do-jin's fate, Noah's potential, the markets' ebbs and flows. Min-soo's threat loomed, but it was just one battle in a war he was fighting on multiple fronts. The CSAT, the stock market, the mystery of his return—they were all pieces of a puzzle he'd solve, no matter the cost.
He clenched his fists, his lips curling into a determined grin. This knowledge is my weapon. And I'm just getting started.