“i know it’s not perfect, but i did follow the recipe this time.” (from marina)
after some enforcers tear through three rooms convinced there's hidden clues leading them to the pavilion bomber, yerin spends the rest of the day tidying up, noting which furniture would have to be repaired for future guests. sheriff grayson leaves them some money for their troubles, but -- having three less rooms would be a significant blow to their earnings for now. the sooner they can set everything right again, the better.
yerin and sunwoo end up working tirelessly throughout the night while marina and sungtae handle the usual clientele, reassuring them the rooms are safe from sudden enforcer inspection. even in the face of grumpy guests, marina seems to navigate the motel work easily these days, as if she's been with them from the start. yerin wishes they could offer her more than lodging for her help, but they've been barely scraping by to begin with. still, there must be something she can do . . . thoughts of knitted scarves and paper flowers wheel in the back of yerin's mind while she hammers chairs and sweeps glass.
it's only when marina comes to check on them ( and honestly, force them to take a break ) that yerin realizes how tired she is. she takes a seat in the kitchen with marina, the room ever cozy and faintly smelling of something sweet as kuri and mugi play on the floor. yerin watches with sleepy affection as marina pours her some tea, forever grateful for all her support. before she can voice her thanks, however -- marina suddenly presents yerin with small basket, the contents tucked in linen.
it's warm to the touch -- a sandwich? a midnight lunch? -- and yerin opens it carefully, only to be met with a vision from childhood. inside is a beautiful array of red bean buns, the pastry she had been telling marina of only a week ago. it had been a special treat her dad used to buy her before he passed and the old bakery closed.
her fingers hesitate above the sweets, as if she can't believe they're right before her. ❝ you made this? ❞ it's a question that needs no confirmation; it's clear from the way mugi and kuri follow marina around still that she had been baking all day ( and sneaking them well-deserved treats ). nevertheless yerin's amazed that marina had actually gone to the trouble for her when the day must've been so busy already. sungtae must've helped write up the recipe too, the pair decrypting the ingredients together. the thought fills yerin's heart to the brim already, entirely warmed by marina's effort. it's difficult to even take the first bite, her touch completely reverent, not wanting to disturb her work.
the outside's perfectly crisp with a soft and sweet center, the taste of days past miraculously before her. ❝ it's delicious, ❞ yerin murmurs with a smile, and then -- feeling on the verge of tears, she keeps talking to keep them at bay, heart thumping all the while. ❝ i can't believe you made them -- you remembered. ❞ she looks down at the bun again, still astonished it's in her hand. ❝ they're even better than i recall, i . . . thank you, marina. ❞ she shakes her head; there's not enough words for her gratitude. ❝ i think you have a secret gift for baking, ❞ she chuckles, wiping away a tear.
