"But don't get pregnant before we're married, okay?" Urip quipped, half-joking, half-serious—but mostly because of past trauma.
Rachel, who was sipping her boba drink, immediately choked a little. "Huh??"
Urip grinned mischievously. "I don't want your dad to get mad and kick me out of the house just because I'm not from a rich family."
Rachel smacked his arm with the hand still holding her straw. "Oppa! Are you insane? We just started dating! We've only kissed twice, and now you're talking about getting pregnant?"
Urip chuckled, "Just being cautious. What if you fall too hard for me and... well, you know."
"Oppaaaa!" Rachel squealed, her face turning red, somewhere between embarrassment, irritation, and amusement. "Your family's even richer than mine, remember?! Your house in Singapore has three floors and an elevator!"
Urip raised his hands in mock innocence. "That's my parents' house. Doesn't mean I'll inherit everything. What if I have secret older siblings?"
Rachel glared at him and then burst out laughing. "You're seriously a mix of romantic, annoying, and heart-thumping!"
"Well, as long as you love me," Urip whispered, reaching for her hand again.
Rachel pouted, pretending to be upset, though her cheeks stayed flushed. "Next time, try being romantic without jumping straight into threats about... pregnancy!"
Urip laughed heartily, and for a moment, all the burdens in their hearts melted away, drowned in laughter and strawberry boba.
He pulled Rachel into a side hug, their fingers entwined—cold but not resisting. In a low voice, almost a whisper, Urip teased, "Condoms still exist these days, right?"
Rachel turned to him, her mouth slightly open in shock. "Oppa!" she exclaimed softly, lightly hitting his chest—not too seriously.
Urip just chuckled, his face calm but his eyes filled with memories he couldn't share. In his heart, a sentence echoed: "I forgot once. I was foolish. And someone had to carry the weight of that forever."
Rachel had no idea how deep the meaning of that joke truly was. To her, it was just playful banter from a guy who had just become her boyfriend. But for Urip—now living in Gaby's body—it was a fresh wound. The wound of a man who thought there would be more time, only to learn that everything can be taken away in one night.
"I heard the med students were offered a volunteer mission in Thailand," Rachel said carefully, trying to sound calm even though her worry showed clearly. "You're not going, are you?"
Urip—now Gabriel—took a slow breath. "No word yet from Dr. Han," he replied while staring at their feet lined up on the tiled bench.
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked quickly.
"Dr. Han said... he has to ask the senior doctors first whether I'm allowed to go."
Rachel nodded immediately, her face tense. "It's because of your heart condition, right? He's afraid something might happen to you there…"
Urip shook his head gently. "No. Not that."
Rachel looked at him in confusion.
"My passport. I'm using a Singaporean passport," he finally said.
Rachel paused for a moment, frowning. "Really? Are you serious?"
Urip gave a lopsided smile. "You just found out?"
Rachel bit her lower lip, looking at him half-shocked, half-embarrassed. "I thought you were full Korean… or at least half."
"Which half do you think?" Urip teased, nudging her gently.
Rachel let out a small laugh, though the worry in her eyes hadn't completely faded. "So… because your passport's from another country, you might not be allowed to go?"
"Not sure yet. That's what Dr. Han is trying to find out."
Rachel lowered her gaze. "I don't like this. I just got you… and now you want to go to a disaster-stricken country?"
Urip was silent.
Rachel looked at him curiously. "But wait, isn't your dad Korean? Shouldn't you be using a Korean passport too?"
Urip sighed, trying to explain. "Singapore allows dual citizenship until age 21. My dad said it was safer for me to use my Singaporean passport first, so I wouldn't have to serve in the military here. Later, if I decide to do my residency in Singapore, then I'll deal with that."
The words came out naturally, unconsciously—flowing from Gaby's memories that now lived inside him.
"Besides, did you know I also have Indonesian blood?" Urip added with a slight smile. "My maternal grandparents were Indonesian citizens of Chinese descent. After my grandmother passed, my grandfather and mom moved to Singapore and eventually became Singaporean citizens."
Rachel's eyes widened in wonder. "Wow, so you're half Korean and the other half is a mix of Singaporean-Indonesian-Chinese?"
Urip nodded with a chuckle. "Yeah, a complete blend. Korean, Singaporean, Indonesian, and Chinese. I'm like a fusion dish."
Rachel grinned, feeling even closer to the man she was just beginning to understand—Gabriel, whose family roots turned out to be rich and layered with stories. "Sounds like something out of a drama. You're making me even more curious about you."
The night grew late as Urip drove Rachel home. His hands moved on the steering wheel instinctively, as if they knew the way by heart—this house he had visited many times.
When they arrived, Urip paused. Rachel's home was modern, tidy, and comfortable, though not as grand as Lim Woo's apartment. What caught his eye were the crosses scattered throughout the house—on the living room wall, the dining table, even hanging in Rachel's bedroom.
"Rachel, you really are devoted," Urip thought to himself, deeply moved and reminded again of the quiet but powerful faith that had always been part of Rachel's life.
Rachel smiled warmly at his gaze. "Yeah, that's just how my family is. God is in every corner of this house," she said gently.
Urip nodded slowly, feeling something shift—something that made him want to know her even more deeply. Not just as a friend or girlfriend, but as someone with a life story that was rich, meaningful, and full of quiet strength.
As Urip and Rachel stepped inside, a warm voice called out from the living room. A middle-aged man stood, smiling kindly.
"Gaby? I heard you were sick—what are you doing driving Rachel home?" Rachel's father greeted with concern.
Urip—known as Gaby in Korean circles—smiled and answered casually, "I'm feeling better, Uncle. Thanks for worrying."
Rachel's dad nodded, patting his shoulder. "That's good to hear. Send our regards to your parents, okay?"
Urip nodded politely. "Of course, Uncle. Warm regards from them as well."
Rachel watched the two of them with a soft smile, comforted by the familiarity and warmth of the moment.
Gaby's phone buzzed on the table. A message from Dr. Han lit up the screen:
"Pack your things. We leave tomorrow morning. Meet at the airport at 10. Make sure you get enough rest tonight. Don't be stubborn, Lim Gabriel."
Urip stared at the screen for a few seconds. A gentle tremor stirred in his chest—whether from nerves about the humanitarian mission or guilt over leaving before May 18, he wasn't sure.
Slowly, he placed the phone back on the table and exhaled deeply.
"Leaving tomorrow…" he whispered to himself. "I need to be ready."
Deep down, he knew—this wasn't just about going to Thailand. It was about all the unfinished stories he'd be leaving behind… including Rachel, Siska, and the music box.