Black Label [EN]: Chapter 4

Black Label 3

4. Even After Returning, Money is the Problem

“Attention!”

Thump!

The male teacher standing at the podium slammed the attendance book onto it.

That sound silenced the previously quiet classroom, which quickly became noisy as students bustled to leave. However, a group at the end of the fourth row showed no intention of leaving.

“Hey, Lee Jae-seung. Are you serious?”

The student who spoke had a name tag that read ‘Son Young-guk’.

Young-guk had a build that made it hard to believe he was only a high school sophomore.

When Young-guk blinked, Jae-seung, who was packing his bag, answered, “Young-guk, we’re going to be seniors in just a few months.”

“No, I’m asking if you’re serious…?”

“I have to take the college entrance exam and go to university. Compared to our friends who have been studying all along, I’m starting way too late even if I start now.”

“Ha, yeah. That’s true, but why suddenly…?”

As Young-guk trailed off, Jae-seung, slinging his bag over his shoulder, replied in an eerie tone, “Young-guk, how long do you think we can live like this?”

“Hey, Lee Jae-seung!”

Frustrated, Young-guk began to thump his chest. Jae-seung had been a partner in crime until just a few days ago, but now he suddenly declared he would study.

From Young-guk’s perspective, it was incomprehensible.

Just as Young-guk was frowning at Jae-seung,

Jae-seung pushed his chair under the desk and said, “Young-guk, I’m telling you clearly, I’ll stay away from you if I think you’re hindering my future.”

“What?”

“I’m serious. I hope you make a wise choice too.”

After speaking, Jae-seung left the classroom, leaving Young-guk staring blankly at his back.

“Ha, seriously… why is that bastard suddenly like that?”

Young-guk muttered, unable to shake off his frustration, and ruffled his hair wildly.

It was an age when accepting a friend’s sudden change was difficult.

* * *

Returning home, Jae-seung immediately changed and sat at his desk.

Over the past few days, Jae-seung had a secret he couldn’t tell anyone.

‘Really…’

It was absurd. Even he, who had experienced it, couldn’t tell if it was real.

A few days ago, he had gone back in time by 13 years.

How? It felt like falling into a deep sleep and waking up.

That was it.

But when he came to his senses, the miserable thirty-one-year-old version of himself was gone.

Standing in the mirror was a seemingly innocent high school sophomore.

“Hoo-”

Jae-seung picked up the calendar on the desk.

It had been exactly 7 days.

A week since he had returned to the past.

Jae-seung had decided to accept the bizarre phenomenon without further doubt.

‘Yeah, this might be an opportunity…’

It wasn’t a dream, it was reality.

The fantasy he always had, ‘How great would it be if I could go back to the past?’ had come true.

He didn’t know what caused it.

But racking his brain wouldn’t change anything.

Now he had to move. There was no time to stand still. Since he had experience making imitations in Dongdaemun [a famous fashion district in Seoul], he might be at an advantage compared to his peers.

But that was it.

‘My competitors aren’t my peers…’

Jae-seung’s goal was clear.

To become the world’s best designer and make his brand, ‘Wall Flower,’ the best.

Jae-seung’s competitors weren’t aspiring designers his age.

Global brands.

And the global designers leading those brands were his competitors.

“Haa…”

As he listed famous designers, he felt intimidated.

It was a long way to go. Reminding himself they were his competitors, he realized he couldn’t waste a second.

Still, he had a chance. At least Jae-seung knew the fashion trends of the next 13 years.

The fashion industry is sensitive to trends.

Knowledge of the future was his most powerful weapon.

“Yeah. I can do it.”

Jae-seung muttered, hypnotizing himself, and took out a parcel box from his desk bookshelf.

It was a parcel from an unknown sender before he returned to the past.

Jae-seung began to unpack the neatly packed items.

A pencil, horn-rimmed glasses, a blank magazine, and a watch case containing a luxurious watch.

He didn’t know why, but these items came to the past with him.

Jae-seung was convinced they held clues to the bizarre phenomenon.

‘Come to think of it, my last memory was winding the watch…’

Jae-seung arranged the objects on his desk, crossed his arms, and stared intently.

At first, he didn’t know what to do, so he left them in the bookshelf. But they didn’t seem ordinary.

Examining them was the first thing he should do.

First, Jae-seung picked up the horn-rimmed glasses and tried them on.

“Perfect fit.”

The fit was as good as the design. He looked around the room.

‘Hmm, was that a futile guess…?’

Jae-seung often guessed, ‘Could these objects have special powers?’

He had a strong feeling they weren’t ordinary.

But there was no change before or after wearing them.

Did he not know how to use them yet? Or were they just ordinary items?

The answer was unknown.

Anyway, the glasses were just ordinary accessories right now.

Jae-seung considered taking them off but decided to wear them.

Thanks to his eyesight being restored, he didn’t need them, but he liked the design.

This time, he picked up a pencil with ‘Wall Flower’ engraved on it.

Apart from the engraving, there was nothing special about it.

Perhaps the glasses had lowered his expectations? Jae-seung put the pencil in his pencil case without regret.

‘Even if it doesn’t have special powers, it’s meaningful… I should use it sparingly.’

Looking at the ‘Wall Flower’ logo, he smiled.

Jae-seung decided that when he officially launched the brand, he would distribute office supplies with the Wall Flower logo to the office workers.

Ziiiip-!

Then he started looking at the magazine.

It was still blank, so it was hard to call it a magazine.

If he had to name it, it would be ‘waste paper’.

“Hmm.”

After thinking, Jae-seung put the magazine and watch box back in the parcel box.

The magazine was useless, and the watch had a design that was too eye-catching, so he shouldn’t wear it.

If he wore such a watch, everyone would ask where he got it.

After finishing, Jae-seung put the parcel box back in the bookshelf.

He hadn’t found any peculiarities yet, but he guessed they weren’t ordinary.

‘They’re objects that came back to the past with me. They can’t be ordinary.’

Soon, Jae-seung fell into thought again.

What method is the most efficient?

What is the way to quickly and stably solidify his position as a designer?

Central Saint Martins in the UK, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, Parsons School in the US. Or famous Japanese fashion schools, etc.

Going to a prestigious overseas fashion school after graduating from high school?

Soon, Jae-seung shook his head. They were good methods, but unrealistic.

He could barely maintain his high school life, let alone the tuition fees for prestigious overseas fashion schools.

Getting formal education would be helpful, but it was almost impossible right now.

There was also working part-time while going to school, but it would be difficult to get a proper education.

Jae-seung fell into deeper thought.

‘Anyway, that damn money is the problem…’

Money, money, money, Jae-seung muttered, and then suddenly opened his eyes wide.

“Huh? I can earn it, can’t I?”

Jae-seung was muttering as if he had a realization.

Beep- Beep-!

From beyond the door, he heard the front door lock being released.

Soon, Jae-seung turned his head and looked at the clock.

‘Is it already this time?’

Jae-seung’s mother, Kim Eun-hyung, who works at a furniture factory, was about to return home.