HEXELG

CAFFEINE & CODE
A GL slow-burn romance by HEXELG

She's just the barista.
She's the most feared CEO in the city.
Neither of them expected to become the most important part of each other's routine.

Rina Cha is shy, clumsy, and just trying to survive her shifts at Syntek Corp's elite café. Her idea of danger is spilling oat milk on a customer-not walking into the executive elevator and meeting Kira Yoon, the company's untouchable CEO.

Kira runs the tech empire like a machine-flawless, cold, and emotionless. She doesn't do distractions. Especially not flustered girls with crooked foam hearts on their lattes.

But somehow, Rina becomes her only exception.

Now, Rina is bringing Kira coffee every day... and something deeper is brewing between them. In a world of polished glass, power suits, and unspoken rules, can softness survive?

Or will Kira code her heart out of reach?

Caffeine & Code

They didn't start in Silicon Valley.

They didn't launch with fanfare or fireworks.

They started in a community center on the edge of the city, working with a nonprofit that supported elderly folks adapting to tech.

"Tech isn't just for the next generation," Rina told the crowd of silver-haired skeptics."It's for you—on your terms."

Kira stood off to the side, watching her.

She speaks like she owns the room, Kira thought.And maybe she does.

The pilot program focused on a simple app:

One-button video calls to pre-set contacts

Voice-to-text messaging with memory prompts

Scam-blocking and auto-flagging built in

No data tracking. No ads. No upsells.

Mr. Han, 72, cried the first time he called his granddaughter without help.

Mrs. Kim, 80, posted her first photo ever—of a sunflower in her kitchen.

This wasn't about shareholder reports.

The team—Kira, Rina, Jin, and two new volunteers—went out for cheap ramen.

They squeezed into a booth, slurping noodles and laughing about a bug that turned every message into cat emojis.

Kira hadn't felt this light in years.

Then Rina leaned over and whispered:

Kira smirked. "Technically, you're COO now."

Rina poked her. "Don't deflect. You're happy."

🕶️ Meanwhile: Helena's Office

Helena stared at a report showing early traction of K+R Tech.

Minimal funding. Tiny reach. But loyal.

"They're launching their beta public next month."

"Then we bury them before they get there."

Pilot Light