The late July heat in Noryangjin-dong was an unyielding crucible, the air thick with the scent of sizzling hotteok and the ceaseless drone of cicadas as Jang Taesan trudged toward school. His frayed backpack, stuffed with textbooks and his notebook of future plans, bounced against his shoulder, a constant reminder of the empire he was forging—coin by coin, kick by kick, answer by answer. It was his thirty-first day back in 2008, and the fire of his second chance roared within him, tempered by the crucible of recent tests: his stand against Min-soo Kang, Sophie Leclerc's relentless scrutiny, and the mystery of his rebirth after saving Emma Kim. Noah Park's trust yesterday—"I want to keep up with you, Taesan"—had sparked a new tether, a bond that strengthened his resolve but also heightened the stakes of his secret. The weight of truth loomed, but the bonds he was forging were a lifeline, pulling him forward.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Vita 500, or hurrying to cram schools. Taesan's eyes swept the crowd, alert for Min-soo or his cronies, Ji-hoon and Dong-min, whose lurking presence had become a constant shadow. The bully's silence since their last encounter, broken only by his cold glares, was a coiled threat, and Sophie's probing questions—"There's more to you, Jang"—were a pressure that tested his ability to keep his secrets hidden. His plan—acing the CSAT, building wealth from the 2008 market crash's aftermath, forging alliances with Han Do-jin and Noah Park—was gaining momentum, but the mystery of his return gnawed at him, a question that fueled both his resolve and his unease.
In science class, Taesan tackled a physics problem on momentum with a precision that left Mr. Kim blinking in surprise, adjusting his glasses with a rare smile. "Jang, you're making this look effortless," the teacher said, his tone tinged with awe. Whispers spread among his classmates, and Sophie, seated near the front, shot him a glance—her eyes sharp, her pencil pausing as if she were dissecting his every move. Taesan kept his expression neutral, but her scrutiny was a growing pressure, pushing him closer to the edge of revelation. His brilliance was rewriting his reputation, but every step into the spotlight made him a bigger target. The tether of bonds with Noah and Do-jin gave him strength, but Sophie's gaze tested it. The fire in his chest burned brighter—he'd face the test and keep his secrets sharp.
At lunch, the cafeteria pulsed with noise—students shouting over trays of tteokbokki, the air thick with the scent of spicy rice cakes and sesame oil. Taesan sat alone, his notebook open to a new page: a refined plan to balance his tutoring, market gigs, and CSAT prep. The 30,000 won from yesterday's tutoring session with Ji-woo, Soo-jin, Min-ho, and Hye-rin was a step toward his savings account, which he'd use to seize opportunities like Samsung's smartphone surge and Kakao's rise. He was jotting down a schedule for a new weekend gig at a local PC bang when Han Do-jin slid into the seat across from him, his tie a mess, a stolen piece of Taesan's kimbap in his hand.
"Yo, Taesan, you're basically a superhero now," Do-jin said, grinning as he chewed. "Min-soo's been quiet, but everyone's talking about you. You're, like, the king of Noryangjin High."
Taesan closed his notebook, forcing a smirk. "Not a king, man. Just done being a nobody." The sight of Do-jin, alive and oblivious to the car crash that loomed in his future, was a bittersweet ache. Taesan couldn't tell him about the time-travel, the markets, or the vow to save him. Not yet. But Do-jin's grin, and the trust behind it, was a tether that fueled his resolve—he would save him, no matter the cost.
Do-jin leaned forward, his grin softening into concern. "For real, though, you okay? You're pushing yourself hard—school, that dojang, whatever you're scribbling in that notebook. You look… I don't know, like you're carrying a secret that's eating you up."
Taesan's heart skipped a beat, Do-jin's words cutting too close to Sophie's suspicions. He kept his expression steady, the weight of his secret pressing hard. "I'm fine," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Just got a lot to prove." Do-jin's faith was a spark, and the trust they were building was a tether, but it also heightened the risk of exposure. The edge of revelation loomed, but Taesan's resolve held firm—he'd keep his secrets for now.
Do-jin nodded, clapping his shoulder. "You're a beast, man. Just don't burn out, yeah? I got your back, so let's kick the ball around later, okay?"
Taesan laughed, the sound easing the tension in his chest. "Deal. But you're buying the soda when we're rich." The tether of Do-jin's trust—I got your back—felt like a lifeline, one he'd cling to in the crucible ahead.
After school, Taesan headed to a tutoring session at a café near the market, where he met Ji-woo, Soo-jin, Min-ho, and Hye-rin, guiding them through algebra and geometry with a patience drawn from his past life's struggles. The cramped space smelled of instant coffee and old books, and Min-ho's hesitant nod as he solved a problem was a small victory. The 30,000 won from the session felt like gold—a step toward his empire. As he left the café, he scanned the street for Min-soo's cronies, but their absence felt like a trap, a reminder that the bully's silence was temporary. His resolve hardened—he'd be ready when they came.
As he approached Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy, Noah Park caught up with him, his lanky frame moving quickly, his eyes flickering with a mix of nervousness and excitement. "Taesan, I've been thinking about what you said," Noah started, his voice low. "About being tougher, about pushing forward. I… I want to help you, whatever you're doing. You're not just training or studying—you're building something, aren't you?"
Taesan's pulse quickened, Noah's words catching him off guard. The glimmer of trust from yesterday was growing into a tether, a bond that could either strengthen his plan or risk exposing it. He saw the potential in Noah—the future tech titan—and the weight of his role as a guide felt heavier. "You're already part of it, Noah," he said, his voice steady. "Stick with me, and we'll build something big together."
Noah's eyes lit up, a flicker of confidence breaking through. "I'm in, man. Whatever it is, I'm in." The trust between them was a tether, fragile but strong, a new thread in Taesan's web of alliances.
At the dojang, Taesan channeled his energy into training, the thwack of kicks and shouts of effort a release for his tension. Master Choi's voice boomed as Taesan practiced a taekwondo side kick, his form sharper, the movement flowing from his core. "Jang! Good! Now add precision!" Choi barked, his stern face betraying a flicker of pride.
Noah worked nearby, practicing a hapkido joint lock with a focus that mirrored Taesan's own. Taesan caught his eye, offering a nod, and Noah returned it, their bond growing stronger with each session. Taesan's mind flashed to Noah's future—a tech titan who'd reshape industries. He's not there yet, but he's mine to guide. The tether of Noah's trust fueled his resolve—he'd shape Noah's path, just as he was shaping his own.
Choi paired Taesan with Hye-jun for sparring, the wiry senior grinning as they squared off. "Heard you're a legend now, Jang," Hye-jun teased, lunging with a quick jab. "Let's see if you fight like one."
Taesan blocked, his reflexes honed by weeks of drills, and countered with a side kick that caught Hye-jun's ribs, earning a surprised grunt. "Not bad," Hye-jun said, rubbing his side with a grin. The spar continued, each move a testament to Taesan's growing strength, though the bruise on his shoulder ached with every block. The weight of his secret was heavy, but the tether of trust from Noah and Do-jin was heavier—he was being forged into something sharper.
As the session ended, Noah approached, wiping his brow. "I meant what I said earlier," he said, his shy smile tinged with determination. "I'm in, Taesan. Whatever you're building, I want to help."
Taesan grinned, slinging his towel over his shoulder, his resolve burning bright. "We'll build it together, Noah. You're tougher than you know—keep it up, and you'll be unstoppable."
Choi's voice cut through. "Jang! Park! Save the hero talk for after class!" They bowed, sharing a quick laugh, and Taesan felt the pieces of his plan solidifying—Do-jin's trust, Noah's potential, Choi's guidance, the coins in his pocket.
Walking home under Noryangjin's neon glow, the stars faint against the city's electric haze, Taesan felt the tether of bonds strengthening his resolve. Sophie's suspicions, Min-soo's threat, the mystery of his return—they were challenges he'd face head-on. The coins in his pocket, the strength in his body, the alliances he was forging—they were the foundation of something unstoppable.
He clenched his fists, his lips curling into a determined grin. The truth is close, but the bonds I'm building are stronger. I'm ready for what's next.