Slowly, I felt myself drifting out of sleep, the warmth of the sun spilling through the window and hitting my face.
My mind lingered in that hazy state between dreams and reality as I blinked against the light.
A faint snore broke the silence, and I turned my head to see Eunwoo sprawled out on the bed next to me, his arm thrown carelessly over his face. He was still fast asleep, completely oblivious to the world.
I sat up quietly, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and stretching. The events of yesterday felt like a distant memory, yet the unease I'd carried from morning to night lingered in my chest.
I heard the familiar sound of footsteps climbing the stairs, soft but steady. It could only be Mrs. Nam, coming to wake us up.
Glancing at my phone, I saw it was already 6:00 a.m. Time had slipped away faster than I thought. We were supposed to gather at school by 7:30, with the ceremony starting promptly at 8.
As I unlocked my phone, multiple notifications caught my attention. The app I frequently scrolled through had blown up overnight with posts, and my classmates had left a flurry of messages in the group chat.
My curiosity was piqued—I was about to tap on one of the notifications—when a knock on the door interrupted me.
"Boys, wake up!" Mrs. Nam's cheerful but firm voice came through. "It's time to get ready for your big day!"
I set my phone aside with a sigh and nudged Eunwoo's shoulder. "Hey, wake up. It's six already."
Eunwoo groaned, mumbling something incoherent, and turned over, burying his face in the pillow. Mrs. Nam knocked again, this time with a little more urgency.
"You're going to be late if you don't get up now!"
"Alright, alright, we're up!" I called back, nudging Eunwoo harder until he finally stirred.
"Five more minutes," he muttered groggily.
"Yeah, and you'll miss graduation if you're late," I shot back, standing up and heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
Behind me, I heard Eunwoo finally start to drag himself out of bed. Today was the day—but that strange feeling from yesterday still lingered. Something about those notifications gnawed at me. I'd check them again after getting ready.
After splashing cold water on my face, I felt a bit more awake. The fog of sleep lifted, but the unease from yesterday still sat heavy in my chest. I brushed my teeth, staring at my reflection in the mirror. It's fine. Just get through today, I told myself.
By the time I came out of the bathroom, Eunwoo was halfway dressed, lazily pulling on his school shirt.
"Man, you look like you barely slept," he said, stifling a yawn as he glanced at me.
"Yeah, probably because someone wouldn't stop talking last night," I replied, trying to sound casual.
Eunwoo grinned. "Hey, at least I wasn't snoring. That was all you."
We both laughed, the tension easing slightly. Moments like this always reminded me why I appreciated Eunwoo's presence—he had a way of making everything feel normal, even when it wasn't.
As we finished getting ready, Mrs. Nam called out from downstairs, "Boys! Breakfast is ready! Don't take too long!"
Eunwoo grabbed his bag and nudged me toward the door. "Come on, we'll eat fast. You can't survive the ceremony on an empty stomach."
I followed him downstairs, the smell of freshly cooked food hitting me as soon as we entered the kitchen. The table was set with eggs, toast, and bowls of steaming soup. Mrs. Nam fussed over us as usual, making sure we ate enough.
"Eat well, okay? You'll need the energy," she said, placing an extra piece of toast on my plate.
Eunwoo's dad was already dressed and heading out the door. "Good luck today, boys," he said with a smile. "I'll try to catch the ceremony later if I can get out of work."
"Thanks, Dad!" Eunwoo called out, shoveling food into his mouth.
I smiled politely, focusing on my plate. My phone buzzed in my pocket, reminding me of the notifications I hadn't checked earlier. As I took a sip of soup, I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
The app was filled with posts about strange incidents. One post in particular caught my eye:
"People are acting crazy. Someone on my street just attacked a delivery guy. The police haven't shown up yet. What's going on?"
I frowned, scrolling through more posts. Similar stories popped up—people acting violently, biting others, even reports of ambulances swarming neighborhoods.
"What's up?" Eunwoo asked, noticing my expression.
"Nothing," I lied, locking my phone and slipping it back into my pocket. "Just random stuff."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
We quickly finished breakfast, thanked Mrs. Nam, and grabbed our things. The walk to school felt strangely quiet, the streets emptier than usual.
"Guess everyone's already heading to graduation," Eunwoo said, trying to fill the silence.
"Yeah," I replied, my thoughts elsewhere. The notifications kept replaying in my mind. Something wasn't right.
As we approached the school gates, I caught myself glancing around more than usual, my gut telling me to stay alert. Whatever was happening, I had a feeling today wasn't going to be as normal as everyone hoped.
Mrs. Nam headed toward the gym, smiling warmly as she wished us luck. "I'll find a good seat to cheer you on! Don't keep the teachers waiting," she said before disappearing into the crowd.
Eunwoo and I made our way to the classroom, where our adviser was waiting for us. She stood near the door, clipboard in hand, looking as composed as ever despite the bustling energy of the day.
"Alright, everyone," she began, clapping her hands to get our attention. "Today is all about making memories, so let's stay focused and do this properly. Fall into line—I don't want any chaos when we get to the gym. Let's make this smooth for everyone."
We did as we were told, forming two neat lines at the front of the room. Some of my classmates were chatting excitedly about graduation, their laughter filling the air.
"I can't believe we're finally done," one of them said, smiling.
"College is going to be so different," another replied.
Eunwoo nudged me with his elbow. "We made it, huh? After all these years."
"Yeah," I replied, managing a small smile. But my thoughts were elsewhere—lingering on the strange news and the odd feeling I couldn't shake since this morning.
As we waited for the signal to leave, I overheard snippets of conversation from a group nearby.
"Did you hear?" one of them whispered. "Some teachers were saying the principal almost postponed today's ceremony."
"Why?" another asked.
"Because of what's been happening on the news. They're saying it's getting worse."
"But they decided to go ahead with it anyway, right?"
"Yeah, I guess they didn't want to ruin everyone's big day."
Eunwoo must've noticed my expression because he leaned closer. "Don't let it get to you," he said. "We're here to celebrate. Whatever's happening out there can wait."
I nodded, but the pit in my stomach remained. Still, I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. Today was supposed to be a celebration, after all.
Our adviser gave the signal, and we filed out of the classroom in two neat lines. The hallways were crowded with students from other classes, all heading toward the gym.
The buzz of excitement was palpable—laughter, chatter, and the occasional nervous giggle filled the air.
Eunwoo walked beside me, hands in his pockets, casually looking around. "This feels weird, huh? Like it's the end of something but also the start of something bigger."
"Yeah," I muttered, my mind still preoccupied. I glanced out a nearby window as we passed. The sky looked dull and gray as if reflecting the unease brewing in my chest.
When we reached the gym, the atmosphere changed. It was brightly decorated, with banners and balloons in our school colors. Rows of chairs were lined up neatly, and the stage at the front had a podium and a long table for the faculty.
Mrs. Nam caught my eye from the audience. She waved enthusiastically, beaming with pride. I smiled back, grateful for her presence.
Our adviser led us to our assigned seats, whispering final instructions about how the program would proceed. The ceremony was about to begin, and everyone was settling in.
As the principal stepped onto the stage to deliver his opening remarks, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Glancing around to make sure no one noticed, I pulled it out and checked the notifications.
The app I usually scrolled through was flooded with posts—some panicked, some confused. Words like "outbreak" and "emergency" jumped out at me. One post had a video attached, showing a chaotic scene on the streets. People were running, screaming, and fighting to get away from... something.
I quickly locked my phone and tried to focus on the ceremony, but my heart was racing. Whatever was happening out there wasn't normal.
Eunwoo leaned closer, noticing my pale face. "What's wrong?" he whispered.
I shook my head. "Nothing. Just nervous, I guess."
He didn't look convinced, but he didn't press me further. The ceremony continued, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.
Eunwoo leaned closer to me, his voice low as he whispered, "Hey, remember that news about the pharmaceutical company discovering a cure for most illnesses? I heard one of our classmates' moms was sick and got better because of it. I saw them earlier. She still kind of looked sick, but he told me that thanks to the medicine, she was able to come to our graduation."
I glanced at him, trying to focus despite the knot of unease in my chest. "Really? That's good, I guess," I replied, though my voice lacked enthusiasm. The memory of the posts I'd just seen lingered at the back of my mind.
Eunwoo nodded. "Yeah, it's wild. He said they were losing hope, but this cure turned everything around for them. Honestly, it's pretty amazing if you think about it."
I wanted to agree, but something about what he said struck me as odd. "She still looked sick, though?" I asked cautiously.
Eunwoo shrugged. "Yeah, but maybe it's just the recovery process. I mean, if she was really bad before, it might take some time to look completely healthy again."
I tried to push the thoughts away and focus on the ceremony, but his words gnawed at me. If this medicine was supposed to be a miracle cure, why didn't she look completely better?
I glanced around the gym, my gaze falling on the rows of parents in the audience. I spotted our classmate and his mom. She was sitting in the middle of the crowd, her posture slightly slumped, her complexion pale. Even from a distance, something about her didn't seem right—her movements were stiff, and her eyes looked… vacant.
A chill ran down my spine. I tried to shake it off, telling myself I was overthinking things again. After all, Eunwoo was probably right—maybe it was just part of the recovery.
But as the principal's voice echoed through the gym, welcoming everyone to the ceremony, I couldn't help but glance back at her. She was still, her gaze fixed straight ahead. Too still. Something wasn't adding up.
The ceremony carried on, but I could barely focus. My classmates clapped and cheered as names were called and diplomas were handed out. The noise of the crowd blended into a hum in the background as my attention remained fixed on her.
The woman—our classmate's mom—moved closer to the stage with each passing moment. Her steps were shaky, her movements unnatural, as though her body were fighting against itself. Her pale complexion looked even more alarming under the bright gym lights.
"Hey," Eunwoo whispered, nudging me. "What's wrong? You've been staring at her the whole time."
I leaned closer to him, my voice low. "Something's not right. Look at how she's moving. Does that seem normal to you?"
Eunwoo frowned and glanced in her direction. His expression shifted from casual curiosity to concern. "She… she doesn't look good," he muttered.
Before I could respond, a loud gasp erupted from the crowd. My head snapped toward the noise, and I saw her collapse onto the floor just a few feet away from the stage. People stood from their seats, craning their necks to get a better view.
Her son, who had been sitting with his classmates, jumped to his feet and rushed to her side. "Mom!" he shouted, his voice trembling with panic.
The principal tried to maintain order, stepping up to the microphone. "Everyone, please remain calm! Someone call for medical assistance!"
But as the son crouched beside his mother, something horrifying happened. She moved—not in the way someone regains consciousness, but in a jerky, violent motion. Her head snapped up, her glassy eyes locking onto her son's face.
"Mom?" he said cautiously, his voice barely audible now.
Before anyone could react, she lunged at him, her teeth sinking into his arm. His scream echoed through the gym, sending everyone into chaos.
The auditorium erupted into panic. People screamed and scrambled to get away, pushing past each other toward the exits. I grabbed Eunwoo's arm, his face pale. "We need to go. Now."
But I also couldn't move, my legs frozen as I watched the scene unfold. Security rushed toward them, but the woman—no, the thing she'd become—was already on her feet, snarling and attacking anyone who got close.
Eunwoo shook me hard. "Snap out of it! We're not safe here!"
His words broke through my paralysis, and I nodded.
The chaos in the gym was spiraling out of control. The faculty tried to maintain order, but it was useless. More people had begun collapsing, their movements eerily similar to the woman's. A man near the stage was on the ground now, thrashing as others tried to help him, only to recoil in horror when he too jerked upright with unnatural force.
The exits were clogged with students and parents desperately trying to flee. Chairs were knocked over, the deafening clamor of panic filling the air. My chest tightened, my breathing shallow. This wasn't just a single incident—it was spreading.
Then, through the madness, I spotted her. Mrs. Nam was standing near the edge of the crowd, her face pale, eyes wide in shock. She was frozen, looking toward the scene where our classmate's mom—now a terrifying figure—was being restrained by security. It was clear she was just as horrified as we were.
I quickly grabbed Eunwoo's arm and made my way toward her. "Mrs. Nam!" I shouted, trying to be heard over the noise.
She turned her head toward us, blinking as though she couldn't quite process what was happening. "What… What's going on?" she stammered, her voice shaking.
I could barely get the words out. "That woman… she… she attacked her son. Something's wrong with her. We need to get out of here."
Mrs. Nam didn't say anything at first, just staring at the chaos around us. Then, without another word, she grabbed both of us by the arms.
We darted toward the nearest exit, weaving through the crowd. I could hear people shouting—some for help, others in terror. The sounds of crying, screaming, and the sickening crunch of something breaking filled the air around us.
I made the mistake of glancing back, catching a glimpse of the woman from earlier. She was staggering toward another group of students, her hands outstretched, her mouth dripping with blood.
It was like something out of a horror movie, but it was real. Too real.
"What do you think's going on?" Eunwoo whispered his voice tight with fear.
"I don't know, I can't believe this is happening," I replied, looking over at Mrs. Nam. Her face was set in grim determination as she led us away, but there was a flicker of fear in her eyes.
I had no idea how much worse it could get, but one thing was clear: everything was about to change.