Dr. Han stood in front of the small meeting room, looking seriously at the gathered interns.
"We've received news of a major disaster in Thailand. The hospitals there are severely understaffed. We need volunteers who are ready to depart immediately," he said firmly.
Several hands went up at once, including Urip's, who stepped forward without hesitation.
Dr. Han glanced toward Lim Gabriel, who was sitting quietly.
"Lim Gabriel, are you sure you want to join? You're supposed to still be resting," Dr. Han asked with a concerned tone.
Gabriel looked up briefly and nodded slowly. "I know, Dr. Han. But I want to help. It's also an important learning opportunity."
The room fell silent for a moment. Rachel, still a student, wasn't part of the meeting and only listened from afar.
Dr. Han nodded. "Alright. But remember, your health comes first. Don't push yourself."
Urip smiled with determination, ready to go, thinking about the big decision he had just made.
Dr. Han pulled out his phone and opened a messaging app.
"We're leaving tomorrow morning. I'll send a Google Form link—please fill in all your information completely for the ticketing and admin process," he said while typing quickly.
The interns exchanged glances—some looked eager, others visibly nervous.
Urip felt his phone vibrate again. He checked the new group chat notification. "Huh, this feels like a modern version of MIRC," he murmured to himself with a smile.
Efficiently, without thinking too much, Urip clicked the link and started filling out the Google Form that Dr. Han had sent. As usual, his hands moved automatically, entering the full name, passport number, and other details—all belonging to Gabriel, not himself. He was going to do everything for Gaby's future.
—
That afternoon, while walking through the hospital corridor, Urip ran into Dr. Han.
"Lim Gabriel, your passport is Singaporean, right?" Dr. Han asked, looking serious.
"Yes, Doctor," Urip replied briefly.
Dr. Han nodded. "Okay, I'll need to check with the senior doctors first. We have to confirm if you're really allowed to join this mission."
—
Rachel stared at her phone screen in disbelief. There was a message notification from Lim Gabriel: "I'm heading to Myeongdong later. Want to come?"
Her heart instantly leaped. Without thinking, she typed: "Yes!"
As soon as the message was sent, she realized—that was an auto-response from her heart. Her fingers trembled, her cheeks flushed. "Oppa never asked me out before…" she whispered, a shy smile blooming on her lips.
She rushed to the restroom to check if her face looked too panicked. Then she looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Calm down, Rachel. It's just a walk… just a walk…"
But in her heart, a small hope had started to grow.
—
Urip smiled to himself inside the elevator, bringing Gaby's body down from the intern floor to the hospital lobby. His gaze pierced the mirror reflection on the elevator wall.
"If only I had been born in Indonesia as a rich kid like you, Gaby… Smart, handsome, future doctor, secure life—girls would be lining up," he muttered inwardly, bitter yet amused.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if staring straight into the soul of the body he was inhabiting. "But you, Gaby… There's a girl who clearly likes you—kind, beautiful, loyal—and you keep your distance. Hiding behind excuses like 'focusing on your studies,' 'the future,' 'afraid of leaving her behind'..."
Urip chuckled, patting his own chest gently. "You think everyone gets someone who loves them that much, Gab? Rachel isn't just a study buddy. You've got gold in your hands, and you're scared to touch it in case you scratch it."
The elevator doors opened. Urip stepped out, carrying a mixed bag of admiration, pity, and gentle frustration toward Gabriel Lim.
"Don't worry, Gab. This time… I'll help you hold that gold. Even if it's just for a little while."
—
Urip sat casually in a car neatly parked in the hospital basement. The air conditioning blew softly, and mellow songs from the radio filled the silence. His eyes were fixed on the entrance.
Before long, he saw Rachel approaching with two of her friends, still in their lab coats and student ID tags.
The moment Rachel saw the car, she quickened her pace—but her friends, of course, didn't waste the moment.
"Hey, Rachel~" teased one of them, a tall guy with round glasses. "Gonna deliver more lip supplements?"
Rachel's face immediately turned red, like a ripe tomato. "W-what are you guys saying…" she muttered, trying to hide her embarrassed smile.
One of her friends struck a dramatic pose, hand over heart. "Oppa~ your rest is on my lips~"
"Yaa! That's enough!" Rachel quickly opened the car door and got in beside Urip, shutting it a bit too hard.
Urip glanced sideways, holding back a laugh. "Lip supplements?"
Rachel buried her face in her hands. "Don't bring that up... please…"
Urip smiled warmly, then started the engine. "It's okay. I want lip supplements too."
Rachel peeked at him from behind her fingers, half-annoyed, half-delighted. "Oppa…"
The car rolled gently out of the parking lot, leaving Rachel's two friends still laughing and clapping behind them.
—
Rachel's stomach suddenly growled softly but audibly inside the quiet car cabin. The sound broke the silence for a moment. Rachel instinctively held her stomach and looked down in embarrassment, her cheeks reddening again.
Urip held back a smile. "Hang in there," he said gently, eyes still on the road. "I'm just worried the shop might close. After that, we'll grab something to eat. Promise."
Rachel nodded quickly, though she was starving. But she knew: she was with her "Oppa," on a one-on-one outing, and that alone made her happy. Even the hunger now felt… sweet.
A few minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a small but elegant store—Cheongdam Melody. It looked warm from the outside, softly lit, with classic wooden displays. Inside were music boxes of various shapes and eras, each playing a gentle tune when wound.
Urip got out first, then opened the door for Rachel. He bent slightly and whispered, "Come on. Let's find a gift for Mama and Papa."
Rachel froze for a second. The word "let's" made her heart thump oddly. She just smiled wide and followed Urip into the shop, watching him begin to browse the rows of music boxes.
—
Cheongdam Melody was still quiet that afternoon. The scent of cinnamon and wood polish lingered from the wooden racks lined with hundreds of music boxes of all kinds.
Urip stepped inside briskly but with hesitation, his eyes scanning the room. Rachel followed behind, full of excitement and nerves.
A middle-aged woman emerged from behind the counter. "Good afternoon. Can I help you with something?" she asked kindly.
Urip stepped forward immediately, no small talk. "I'd like to order a music box. Decorated with edelweiss flowers, and the melody should be 'Panis Angelicus.' It's for May 18th. Can you do it?"
The woman was momentarily surprised, then gave a faint smile. "That's quite last minute. It's already the 15th today."
"Sorry," Urip said quickly, a bit nervous. "I've been really busy… and… I forgot. It's a wedding anniversary gift for my parents."
Rachel chimed in without being asked, her voice soft and full of support. "He just recovered, too. Today's the first day he could leave the house. That's why we only got to come now."
The shop owner nodded gently, noting Urip's pale face with sympathy. "Well then, I hope you recover fully soon."
She then asked, "But why not order online? It would've been faster."
Urip froze. His eyes narrowed slightly, confused. "Order… online?" he thought. "What does she mean?"
But Rachel quickly stepped in. "It's better to see them in person. You can match the colors, the shape, and the feel more accurately."
The woman smiled, as if she understood. "Ah, young people these days who still appreciate things with soul. Alright, I'll try to make it. But with the 18th so close, it can't be too elaborate, okay?"
Urip nodded firmly. "As long as the melody is right and it has edelweiss, simple is totally fine."