Episode 2 of "Motel California" kicks off with a poignant scene at Yeon-soo's grandfather's funeral, where Chun-pil stands, aware of his anticipation for Kang-hee's arrival. A brief, vivid flashback transports us to a moment where Chun-pil, Yeon-soo, and their friends orchestrated a surprise Happy Birthday sing-along for Kang-hee. Yet, rather than being delighted, she seems perturbed and strolls away, leaving an intrigued Yeon-soo to chase after her. He vows to accompany her wherever she goes for the remainder of his life, silently contemplating his feelings for her, which he refrains from articulating.
Presently, Kang-hee is astonishment embodied as she finds Yeon-soo embracing her. She pays her respects to Yeon-soo's late grandfather, but the moment is disrupted by an eerie twist—his portrait begins to address her, expressing his fondness for her. Kang-hee, though initially startled, inquiries about a past grievance but decides to let bygones be bygones. Suddenly, Yeon-soo's mother, Soon-ja, bursts into the room, tumbling to the ground, closely trailed by her current spouse.
Noticing Kang-hee's absence from the hall, Yeon-soo rushes out to catch her, concern etched on his face. He urges her to eat before departing, aware of her weariness from the neighbors' malicious gossip about her and her parents. Once Yeon-soo leaves, another cherished friend, Seung-eon, intervenes, suggesting Kang-hee meet Ah-reum, another member of their once-tight-knit circle.
Kang-hee sits down with Ah-reum, but their reunion is overshadowed by derogatory whispers echoing through the funeral hall. A nostalgic flashback unfolds, depicting Kang-hee, Seung-eon, Ah-reum, Han-woo, and Yeon-soo as an inseparable group of friends, their bond unbreakable by time or circumstance.
The others teased them for an array of reasons—Kang-hee for residing in a modest motel, Han-woo for his rural farm life, and Yeon-soo for her girth. Dubbing them "The Gangsters," a nickname playfully derived from Kang-hee's moniker, their tormentors relished their cruel amusement. However, Kang-hee, with her quick wit, bided her time, awaiting the perfect moment for retribution—a moment when lightning would strike them down.
Nowadays, Kang-hee approaches the bullies' table, her gaze singularly focused on Heon-yeol, their ruthless leader. Mocking her openly, Heon-yeol throws a drink in her face, but Kang-hee retaliates swiftly, upending a steaming bowl of noodles over him before turning and walking away with disdain. Infuriated, Heon-yeol throws a bottle at her, but Yeon-soo intercepts it, even landing a punch on Heon-yeol when his aggression spirals out of control. Seung-eon then steps in, escorting Kang-hee safely away from the fray.
At the funeral, Soon-ja scorns Kang-hee's actions and warns Yeon-soo to steer clear of her troubled friend. Meanwhile, Kang-hee expresses gratitude to Seung-eon for staying with her father, an orphan whose fate they earlier learned about. As they return to the motel, Kang-hee is enveloped by memories of the night she fled. She had confided in Yeon-soo, stating that she could no longer endure the town's hostility and had to escape.
Kang-hee returns to her goshiwon, a humble abode of small rooms in Seoul, where she resides. She receives a call from Seok-kyung and informs him abruptly that she has resigned from Moment, swiftly terminating the conversation. Suddenly, fragments of a forgotten night surface in her mind—a night when she was drunk and had invited Seok-kyung to her place after quitting her job. In her intoxicated state, she had unwittingly summoned him to her door, and he had arrived.
Kang-hee encounters Jung-goo, and the narrative unfolds, revealing what transpired next. Esther had already laid eyes on Kang-hee's design, and she, along with Seok-kyung, had decided they wanted her as their design head. Mr. Mok now extends an olive branch, urging Kang-hee to rejoin their ranks. However, she steadfastly refuses to work alongside someone she deeply dislikes. Instead, Seok-kyung and Esther propose an enticing offer—to compensate her generously for working directly with them.
She graciously accepts the offer but declines the payment, acknowledging that her dignity as a designer has already been compensated through their respect. Esther, moved by her grace, extends a heartfelt invitation for friendship and warmly includes Kang-hee in her wedding festivities. Upon returning to her goshiwon, Kang-hee discovers that the plumbing has malfunctioned, rendering her unable to take a much-needed shower. Just then, Ah-reum reaches out, inquiring if she could temporarily reside at Kang-hee's Seoul abode for a couple of days. Kang-hee, wanting to avoid her current predicament, fabricates a tale about an impending business trip. However, Ah-reum and Yeon-soo, already privy to her non-employment at Moment, see through her lie.
Later, the duo encounters Nan-woo, a spirited girl attempting to liberate a group of dogs from being subjected to tests. Yeon-soo, ever the compassionate veterinarian-in-training, lends a helping hand and directs the dogs to a shelter he founded during his school days. Nan-woo is deeply impressed by his kindness and later inquires about Yeon-soo's relationship status through Ah-reum, also asking about his plans for Christmas Eve.
Meanwhile, Kang-hee attends Esther's wedding, her mind wandering to a fantasy of her own wedding ceremony with Yeon-soo as her groom. There, she crosses paths with Jung-goo, who reveals that Kang-hee's courage inspired her to leave Moment as well. Seok-kyung arrives on the scene and notices Kang-hee sketching the wedding hall. He invites her to an after-party, but she politely declines, citing prior engagements.
A nostalgic flashback transports us to Chun-pil treating Kang-hee to a luxurious hotel stay on her birthday, which coincidentally falls on December 25th. This became an annual tradition for them. In the present, Ah-reum calls Kang-hee to wish her a joyful birthday. Feeling grateful, Kang-hee dials Yeon-soo to thank him for his support during the Heon-yeol ordeal, but realizes he is on a date with Nan-woo, painting a bittersweet picture of her current emotional landscape.
Kang-hee finds herself deeply troubled and instructs her father to refrain from meeting her at the hotel that evening, asserting that another man now occupies her life. Seeking an escape from this "possessive suitor," she approaches Seok-kyung and propositions him as a means to extract herself from this entanglement. She leads him up to her hotel room, but surprisingly, it is Yeon-soo who awaits her inside, and he seems to recognize Seok-kyung instantly.
A nostalgic glimpse into 2013 reveals Yeon-soo and his comrades jamming on stage alongside Chun-pil. Chun-pil had vowed to disclose Kang-hee's Seoul residence to Yeon-soo but merely hinted at her residing in a goshiwon. Driven by this sparse clue, Yeon-soo and Han-woo journey to Seoul in search of her, yet their efforts remain fruitless. This relentless pursuit explains Yeon-soo's repeated trips to Seoul and his persistent hunt for Kang-hee.
Eventually, his perseverance pays off as he discovers her working part-time at a convenience store, albeit witnessing her amidst a heated altercation with her employer. Seok-kyung, who is also present, attempts to intervene by forwarding a video of the conflict to Kang-hee. Spotting Yeon-soo, Kang-hee hands him a soda, firmly commanding him to depart and never return.
Meanwhile, in the unfolding drama of Motel California Episode 2, Seok-kyung remains blissfully unaware of the误会 and blithely instructs Yeon-soo to relinquish his claim over Kang-hee to him.
