The rehearsal started, and the air was filled with excitement and nerves.
Everyone was busy doing their part—some practicing their walks across the stage, others rehearsing their lines for the program. It was supposed to be a proud and celebratory moment, but for me, the morning's events lingered in the back of my mind like a dark cloud.
Mrs. Choi, our ever-persistent homeroom teacher, wouldn't leave me alone. She stood with her arms crossed, giving me that stern look that only teachers perfected over years of dealing with stubborn students.
"Eunwu, you're doing your speech today," she said firmly. "No excuses."
I sighed, standing at the podium with my notecards in hand. Normally, I would've flat-out refused, but with everything that had happened earlier, I didn't have the energy to argue. I went through the words on the cards, stumbling at first. My voice felt shaky, and my focus was split between the task and the memory of that man lunging at me.
But Mrs. Choi didn't relent. Her watchful eyes pushed me to keep going. Eventually, I found some rhythm and delivered the speech to the best of my ability. By the end, she gave me a small nod of approval.
"Good enough," she said, and I exhaled in relief.
Once the rehearsal wrapped up, we headed back to the classroom. The teachers reminded us not to wander around too much today, emphasizing that tomorrow was the big day.
"Stay put, everyone," Mrs. Choi said firmly. "We need you rested and prepared. No unnecessary outings or distractions."
Most of the class groaned at the restriction, but I didn't mind. Wandering around was the last thing I wanted to do.
As I settled back into my desk, I glanced at Eunwoo, who was already making jokes with a group of classmates. For a moment, I envied how easily he could switch off his worries.
But no matter how much I tried to blend into the normalcy around me, that unsettling feeling in my gut wouldn't go away.
As soon as Mrs. Choi dismissed us, the class erupted into a mix of chatter and movement. I packed my things slowly, still feeling drained from everything that had happened that day.
Eunwoo approached me, his usual energetic demeanor intact, though his tone was a bit more subdued.
"Hey," he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "The basketball plan's off. One of the guys has to go somewhere with his family, and, honestly, everyone's just trying to get some rest for tomorrow."
I nodded, not particularly bothered. After the morning's events, playing basketball was the last thing on my mind.
"We're heading to my place, then," Eunwoo continued. "Mom insisted. She said you're staying over for dinner and crashing at our house tonight. She doesn't want you alone before the big day."
"Your mom's too nice to me," I muttered, but a small smile crept onto my face. Eunwoo's family had always been like a second home to me, and I was grateful for how much they cared.
As we walked through the streets toward his house, the atmosphere felt... heavy. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the pavement. The usual sounds of the neighborhood—kids playing, dogs barking, neighbors chatting—seemed quieter than usual, like everyone was retreating indoors early.
Eunwoo, oblivious to my unease, started talking about graduation and what was coming next.
"Man, I can't believe we're finally graduating," he said, kicking a pebble on the road. "It feels like just yesterday we were clueless freshmen trying to figure out where the cafeteria was."
I chuckled faintly. "You mean you were clueless. I found it on the first day."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." He grinned.
Thanks to Eunwoo, I somehow managed to forget what had happened earlier. His lively energy and constant jokes pulled me out of my thoughts, and I found myself laughing along with him.
By the time we arrived at his house, I felt a little calmer. His home, warm and familiar, had always been a place of comfort for me.
As we stepped through the door, his mother greeted us with her usual cheerful smile.
"Welcome back, boys," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes. Go wash up and get ready. Your father's already home, Eunwoo, so we'll eat as soon as everything's on the table."
"Yes, ma'am," Eunwoo replied with a mock salute, grinning.
"Good to see you, dear," she said, turning to me. "It's been a while since you stayed over. You must be starving. Eat as much as you like tonight!"
"Thanks, Mrs. Nam," I said with a small smile. Her warmth was contagious, and it made me feel more at ease.
Eunwoo nudged me playfully. "Come on, let's go clean up before she starts scolding us for dragging dirt into the house."
I followed him upstairs, still smiling. This house had become a second home to me over the years, and moments like these reminded me how lucky I was to have Eunwoo and his family in my life.
Eunwoo and I took turns in the bathroom, and by the time we went downstairs, the dining table was set, overflowing with food that looked like a feast. The aroma of the dishes filled the room, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the Nam family.
Mrs. Nam beamed at us as we sat down. "I know tomorrow is a big day, but I'm just so happy seeing my two boys growing up. Don't worry, we'll still have an after-party after the ceremony!" she said cheerfully.
Eunwoo's dad raised his glass of water and added, "Congrats, guys. Your mom and I are proud of you, and we'll always support you."
Eunwoo and I both nodded, a mix of gratitude and embarrassment at the heartfelt moment. But before we could respond, Mr. Nam's tone shifted.
"I'm sorry, but I have some bad news," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "I won't be able to attend your ceremony tomorrow. The hospital is really busy, and they need me there. Honestly, I should have been on shift tonight, but they gave me a little time off so I could at least have dinner with you guys. I promise I'll catch up at the after-party."
He looked genuinely upset about missing such an important day, but Eunwoo immediately jumped in with his usual humor to lighten the mood.
"It's okay, Dad," Eunwoo said with a sly grin. "I'll just fail this year and repeat it so you can attend the next graduation."
I chuckled, shaking my head, while Mr. Nam let out a hearty laugh. "Don't you dare!" he said, pointing his fork at Eunwoo.
"It's okay," I added sincerely. "We understand. You're saving lives—that's more important."
The mood quickly returned to its lively and warm atmosphere as we all dug into the food. Eunwoo kept cracking jokes, and Mrs. Nam fussed over whether we were eating enough.
Time flew by quickly as we finished dinner. Feeling grateful, I offered to help Mrs. Nam with the dishes, but she waved me off with a warm smile.
"You boys should get ready for tomorrow and get some rest," she said, her tone gentle but firm.
After dessert, Eunwoo and I bid his parents goodnight. Mrs. Nam was still bustling in the kitchen, wiping down the counters and putting away dishes, while Mr. Nam sat on the couch, engrossed in a phone call. The TV was on in the background, flashing a breaking news banner, but I couldn't catch the details.
"Goodnight, Mom! Goodnight, Dad!" Eunwoo called out, and I echoed him politely.
"Goodnight, boys. Don't stay up too late," Mrs. Nam replied, glancing over her shoulder. Mr. Nam gave us a distracted wave, still speaking softly into the phone.
Eunwoo and I headed to his room, the weight of tomorrow's graduation hanging over us but tempered by the comfort of the evening. As we got ready for bed, I couldn't shake the unease from earlier in the day. Still, Eunwoo's presence and his family's warmth had made it easier to push those thoughts aside—at least for now.
We lay down, the room falling into a comfortable silence, broken only by the faint hum of the TV downstairs.
Eunwoo kept talking, his voice animated as he went on about the graduation tomorrow, college plans, and a funny story from earlier in the week. I nodded occasionally, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, but my mind felt foggy.
I wanted to respond, to laugh along or tease him like I usually would, but the weight of the day was too much. The events from this morning kept replaying in my head—the sick man, the strange post online, the eerie tension I couldn't shake.
I tried to focus on Eunwoo's words, letting his voice ground me, but it was like my body was shutting down. Before I realized it, my eyelids grew heavy, and the world faded into darkness.
The last thing I remembered was the faint sound of Eunwoo laughing and saying, "You're not even listening, are you?" before sleep pulled me under completely.