The late July heat in Noryangjin-dong was an unyielding crucible, the air thick with the scent of sizzling eomuk 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-sixth 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. Yesterday's near-clash with Min-soo, defused by Sophie's intervention, had pushed him closer to a breaking point, and the weight of his secret felt like a crack threatening to split his carefully constructed facade. The tether of trust with Noah Park and Han Do-jin was a lifeline, but the pulse of progress was now shadowed by the crack of confrontation looming ahead.
The school courtyard buzzed with its usual chaos—students trading notes, laughing over cans of Chupa Chups soda, 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 warning—"You're pushing too many buttons, Jang"—echoed like a crack in his armor. 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. The crack of confrontation was widening, and Taesan knew he couldn't avoid it much longer.
In Korean history class, Taesan answered a question about the Gwangju Uprising with a depth that left Ms. Park blinking in surprise, her chalk pausing mid-scrawl. "Jang, you're making my lessons obsolete," she said, half-joking, half-impressed. Whispers spread among his classmates, and Sophie, seated by the window, 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, widening the crack in his defenses. 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 the crack of confrontation threatened to expose everything.
At lunch, the cafeteria pulsed with noise—students shouting over trays of kimchi jjigae, the air thick with the scent of spicy broth and sesame oil. Taesan sat alone, his notebook open to a new page: a refined plan to optimize 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. "Heard about yesterday with Min-soo. You didn't back down, man. 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, even if the crack of confrontation broke him first.
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 one wrong move from breaking."
Taesan's heart skipped a beat, Do-jin's words cutting too close to the truth. He kept his expression steady, the weight of his secret pressing hard. "I'm fine," he said, his voice calm but strained. "Just got a lot to prove." Do-jin's faith was a spark, and the trust they were building was a tether, but the crack of confrontation was widening, and Taesan could feel the pressure building. The surge of momentum was driving him forward, but the weight of his secret was pulling him toward a breaking point.
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, though it felt fragile. "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 as the crack widened.
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 Hye-rin's hesitant nod as she 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 the confrontation came.
As he approached Choi's Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy, he was stopped not by Min-soo, but by Sophie Leclerc, her ponytail swinging, her eyes blazing with determination. "Jang, this stops now," she said, her voice low but firm. "I've been watching you, and I know you're hiding something big. You're too good at too many things—school, fighting, even the way you talk about the future. Tell me what's going on, or I'm going to the teachers."
Taesan's pulse quickened, the crack of confrontation splitting wide open. He kept his expression neutral, his resolve a tempered blade. "You're chasing shadows, Leclerc," he said, his voice steady but edged with steel. "I'm just trying to get ahead. Keep digging, and you'll waste your own time." His heart pounded, the weight of his secret heavier than ever. Sophie's suspicions were a direct challenge, and the breaking point was here.
Sophie's eyes narrowed, searching his face. "I don't buy it," she said, her voice softening but resolute. "You're not just some kid, Jang. I'll figure it out, and when I do, you'd better be ready." She turned and walked away, leaving Taesan with a mix of dread and determination. The crack of confrontation had opened, and he'd barely held it together.
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 roundhouse kick, his form sharper, the movement flowing from his core. "Jang! Good! Now add power!" 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, even as the crack of confrontation threatened to unravel everything.
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, even as the crack widened.
As the session ended, Noah approached, wiping his brow. "I heard about Min-soo and Sophie," he said, his shy smile tinged with concern. "You okay? You're handling a lot."
Taesan grinned, slinging his towel over his shoulder, his resolve burning bright despite the crack. "I'm fine, Noah. They're not done yet, but neither am I. You're getting tougher too—keep it up, and you'll be unstoppable."
Noah's eyes lit up, a flicker of confidence breaking through. "Thanks, man. I'm sticking with you."
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 crack of confrontation still widening. 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 crack is wide, but I'm stronger. I'm ready for what's next.