REBORN IN NEW YORK – THE REGRET REVERSAL SYSTEM

Chapter 3 Saying No

"I said no. I'm not sharing my research notes." Ethan closed his laptop with a soft click, meeting Derek's gaze directly. His voice was calm, almost bored. "I've spent months on this research. It's proprietary work that I'm planning to develop further. So no, you can't borrow it."

For the first time in all the years Ethan had known him, Derek looked genuinely surprised. The smooth confidence faltered, replaced by confusion and a flicker of irritation.

"Come on, man. It's just for a paper. I'm not going to steal your ideas or something." Derek laughed, but it sounded forced. "We're friends, right? Friends help each other out."

Friends, The word tasted like poison in Ethan's mouth, but he kept his expression blank, channeling every ounce of control he'd learned in his previous timeline's years of swallowing humiliation.

"If we're friends, you should understand why I can't share work I plan to monetize," Ethan said. Each word was measured, precise. "Plenty of economics papers don't require original research. Professor Michaels will accept a literature review of existing sources."

Derek's jaw tightened. The mask was slipping now, revealing the calculating mind beneath. "I didn't realize you were so paranoid about your little Bitcoin hobby. It's not like you're actually going to do anything with it."

There it was the dismissiveness, the subtle put-down disguised as friendly ribbing. In his first life, Ethan would have scrambled to apologize, to prove he wasn't being unreasonable, and ended up handing over the notes anyway.

Now, Ethan just smiled. It was a cold smile, the smile of someone who knew exactly how this story ended.

"You're right. I might not do anything with it." He stood up, gathering his laptop and bag. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to hand it to someone else. Good luck with your paper, Derek."

He walked away without waiting for a response, feeling Derek's stare burning into his back. His heart was pounding, adrenaline flooding his system, but his stride remained steady. It wasn't until he was outside the library, standing in the late afternoon sun, that he allowed himself to breathe.

[QUEST COMPLETE!]

[FIRST REVERSAL QUEST: DEFEND YOUR FUTURE - SUCCESS]

[REWARD: 100 Points Acquired]

[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: Enhanced Perception Level 1]

[DESCRIPTION: Host can now read subtle body language, detect lies more easily, and identify opportunities others miss. This skill grows stronger with use.]

[BONUS REWARD: Future Knowledge Database Updated]

[HOST LEVEL: 2]

The System's voice returned, and for once, it sounded almost approving. "Well, well. You actually grew a spine.Derek's going to be wondering what happened to his obedient little resource."

Ethan leaned against a tree, letting the achievement sink in. One small victory. One tiny change to the timeline. But it felt monumental like he'd just won a battle in a war that had destroyed him the first time around.

"That was the easy part," Ethan said quietly. "He didn't expect resistance. Next time he'll be prepared."

"Good. You're learning." The System paused. "Your Enhanced Perception is active now. Pay attention to what you notice."Ethan looked around the campus with fresh eyes. A couple arguing near the student center the girl's body language screamed she'd already decided to break up, the guy just didn't know it yet. A professor talking with a student by the library steps the student was lying about why he missed the exam, obviously from the way he couldn't maintain eye contact. A businessman in an expensive suit walking toward the business school his watch alone cost more than Ethan's entire tuition, and he moved with the confidence of someone used to closing deals.

Everything was sharper now, clearer. Ethan could read the layers beneath surface interactions, see the currents of truth and deception flowing through every conversation around him.

"This is going to be useful," he murmured.

"It better be," the System replied. "Because Derek was just the opening act. You've made your first change to the timeline, which means ripple effects are starting. Some people who ignored you before might notice you now. Some who trusted you might become suspicious. Every action has consequences, Host."

[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]

[SECOND REVERSAL QUEST: THE GIRLFRIEND WHO NEVER WAS]

[OBJECTIVE: Sophia Chen will approach you tomorrow at the campus coffee shop, 10:15 AM. In the original timeline, this was your first meeting. She seemed sweet, interested in your thoughts on technology and philosophy. You dated for years before she cheated with Derek.]

[MISSION: Reject Sophia's approach before the relationship begins. See through her performance.]

[REWARD: 150 Points, Skill Unlock: Charisma Enhancement Level 1]

[OPTIONAL BONUS: Make Sophia regret approaching you (300 Points, Unknown Skill)]

[TIME REMAINING: 19 Hours, 47 Minutes]

Ethan's chest tightened. Sophia. The woman he'd loved, or thought he'd loved. years of his life invested in someone who'd looked him in the eyes and said he'd never amount to anything while she was literally in bed with his best friend.

The rage was still there, burning just beneath the surface. But it was controlled now, focused. A weapon instead of a weakness.

"Tomorrow morning," Ethan said. "I'll be ready."

He pulled out his phone, the ancient Nokia that made him want to laugh and opened the notes app. He began typing a list: people who had betrayed him, opportunities he'd missed, investments that would pay off, disasters he could avoid. His whole future was a roadmap now, and he knew every wrong turn.

The sun was setting over New York University, painting the campus in gold and orange light. Students streamed past him, heading to dinner or evening classes, living their normal lives. They had no idea the world was about to change, that Bitcoin would revolutionize finance, that smartphones would transform society, that some of them were walking past someone who knew the next years like the back of his hand.

Ethan Hayes smiled, and it wasn't the nervous, people-pleasing smile of his old self. It was the smile of a man with nothing to lose and everything to take back.

"Let's see how much I can change," he said to the System. "Let's see if they recognize me when I'm done."

The System's laugh echoed in his mind. "That's the spirit, Host. Burn it all down and build your empire on the ashes. Just remember.

[WARNING: TIMELINE CHANGES DETECTED]

[MULTIPLE FUTURES NOW EXIST]

[SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE BECOME AWARE OF YOUR TRANSFORMATION]

[DIFFICULTY LEVEL: INCREASING]

The screen flickered with new information faces appearing in small windows. Derek, his expression tight with suspicion. Marcus, looking at Ethan with newfound curiosity. And others, people Ethan barely remembered from his first timeline, now highlighted as "PERSONS OF INTEREST."

"What does that mean?" Ethan asked.

"It means the universe noticed you changed something, and it's adapting. Derek's going to be more cautious around you now. Others might take interest in you who didn't before. Every choice you make creates new possibilities, some good, some potentially disastrous." The System's tone turned serious. "You wanted a second chance, Ethan Hayes. But second chances don't come with guarantees. You could still fail. You could die again. Or you could become everything you should have been the first time around. The question is: are you strong enough to take it?"

Ethan looked at the list on his phone, then at the campus around him, then at the System's glowing screen filled with quests, opportunities, and warnings. Twelve years of knowledge. Abilities that would grow with each success. And a burning need to make everyone who'd destroyed him regret ever knowing his name.

"I'm strong enough," he said quietly. "And I'm going to prove it."

The System's response was cut off by his phone buzzing a text message from an unknown number. Ethan opened it and felt his blood run cold.

UNKNOWN: "You're different today, Ethan. I noticed. Let's talk soon."

Amanda Torres. His future boss who would fire him. But that wasn't supposed to happen until years from now. She wasn't supposed to know he existed yet.

The timeline was already changing faster than he'd anticipated, and Ethan realized with crystal clarity that this second life wouldn't just be about avoiding old mistakes. It was going to be a completely different game, one where his enemies might see him coming.

Good, he thought, deleting the message. Let them see me coming. This time, I'm ready for war.