That morning, Mrs. Naning's house was no longer like it used to be.
In the past, mornings had been filled with nothing but the sounds of chickens, the neighbors' motorcycles, and children leaving for school. Now there was another sound—the voices of people coming to buy drinks.
Even before the drink stand was open, several people were already standing in front of the house.
Rini had just come outside with a broom when she froze in surprise.
"Mom..."
"What is it now, Rin?"
"There are a lot of people out front."
Mrs. Naning, who was putting ice cubes into a thermos, immediately looked outside.
Sure enough.
Several customers were already waiting.
"What time did they get here?"
Rini glanced at the wall clock.
"It's only six-thirty."
Mrs. Naning sighed.
"We don't even open until eight."
"People already know our schedule, Mom."
"Don't tell me someone will show up before dawn tomorrow."
Rini laughed.
"Wouldn't surprise me."
Mrs. Naning could only shake her head.
She had never imagined that her drinks could make people willing to wait.
As she prepared the ingredients, Mrs. Naning occasionally glanced outside.
Part of her was happy.
But part of her was afraid, too.
The more people who knew about her business, the greater her responsibility became.
"Rin."
"Yeah?"
"Don't let the drinks taste any different."
Rini stopped helping.
"Why are you saying that?"
"Because when people come from far away, they're coming for the taste they had yesterday."
Rini nodded.
"Don't worry, Mom. We're still making them the same way."
Mrs. Naning smiled.
But deep down, she knew keeping the taste consistent wouldn't be easy.
The drink's recipe wasn't just a mixture of ingredients.
There was a long story behind it.
That afternoon, when things had slowed down, Rini sat and watched her mother.
"Mom."
"Hmm?"
"Where did this drink recipe actually come from?"
Mrs. Naning, who was washing glasses, suddenly fell silent.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because a lot of people have been curious since yesterday."
"People are naturally curious."
"You've never told me."
Mrs. Naning gave a small smile.
She dried her hands with a cloth.
"When you were little, I used to make drinks for neighborhood events."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"How come I never knew?"
"Because you were still little back then. All you knew was playing."
Rini laughed.
"Well, I was a little kid."
Mrs. Naning smiled along with her.
"Back then, I was just experimenting."
"Experimenting until it turned into this?"
"Yeah."
Mrs. Naning picked up a bottle of syrup.
"I didn't have much money then. So if I wanted to sell drinks, I had to be creative."
"What do you mean?"
"If I bought expensive ingredients, the profit would be small. So I learned how to make something delicious with simple ingredients."
Rini listened intently.
"Then who taught you?"
Mrs. Naning was silent for a moment.
"Your grandmother."
"Grandma?"
"Yeah."
Rini smiled.
"So this recipe is a family heirloom?"
"Don't put it that way."
"Why not?"
"Because a recipe isn't just about the ingredients."
"Then what is it about?"
"The intention behind it."
Rini looked confused.
Mrs. Naning continued.
"If you make something only because you want money, it tastes different."
"How so?"
"People can tell whether you made something with your heart or just threw it together."
Rini nodded slowly.
Her mother's words were always simple, but they often made Rini think.
That evening, a woman came to the front of the house.
She looked to be in her thirties. She was neatly dressed and carried a large bag.
"Excuse me."
Mrs. Naning, who was clearing the table, turned around.
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Is this Mrs. Naning's house?"
"Yes."
The woman smiled.
"I'm Maya."
"Would you like to order a drink?"
"No."
Mrs. Naning looked slightly puzzled.
"Then what is it?"
"I wanted to ask about the recipe."
The mood immediately changed.
Rini, who was carrying a cardboard box, stopped in her tracks.
"The recipe?"
Maya nodded.
"Yes. I'm interested in your drinks."
Mrs. Naning smiled politely.
"Thank you."
"I'd like to know how to make them."
Mrs. Naning fell silent.
Not because she was angry.
She simply didn't know how to answer.
"I'm sorry, miss, but I can't give out the recipe."
Maya nodded.
"I understand."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
Maya smiled.
"But I'm curious. Why don't you want to share it?"
Mrs. Naning looked at her little cart.
"Because it's the result of years of learning."
Maya nodded.
"I understand."
After talking for a little while, Maya left.
Rini immediately went over to her mother.
"Mom, who was that?"
"I don't know."
"She wanted to buy the recipe?"
"Yeah."
"She's got nerve."
Mrs. Naning smiled.
"It's only natural for people to look for opportunities."
"But aren't you scared?"
"I am."
"Then?"
"That doesn't mean I have to get angry."
Rini nodded.
That night, while Mrs. Naning was counting her ingredient stock, Mr. Darto arrived with some news.
"Naning!"
"What is it, Darto?"
"Check your phone."
"Why?"
"Someone made another video."
Mrs. Naning immediately looked at Rini.
"Rin?"
Rini opened her phone.
Sure enough.
There was a new video about their drinks.
But this time, it wasn't just an ordinary customer.
Someone had recorded the long line in front of Mrs. Naning's house.
The title made them fall silent.
"The Homemade Drinks People Are Willing to Wait in Line For."
The comments kept piling up.
"I'm gonna try them tomorrow."
"Where is this place?"
"Are they really that good?"
Mrs. Naning stared at the screen with mixed feelings.
"Rin."
"Yes, Mom?"
"Looks like it'll be even busier tomorrow."
Rini smiled.
"I'm ready, Mom."
"Don't get excited just yet."
"Why not?"
"Because when the number of customers goes up, the problems can pile up, too."
Mr. Darto, who had heard her, nodded.
"That's right."
Rini turned to him.
"Why so serious, Mr. Darto?"
"Because I've seen a lot of people change after they become famous."
Mrs. Naning stared at her cart.
She didn't want to change.
She only wanted to keep making drinks that people loved.
But she was aware of something, too.
The taller a tree grows, the more wind tries to shake it.
And unbeknownst to them, someone had begun watching Mrs. Naning's small success from a distance.
Someone who didn't just want to buy a drink.
They wanted to learn the secret behind the flavor that had made so many people curious.