Bonus Chapter – Soeun’s Corner

🌤️ Morning Light

The bell above the café door jingled softly as the first wave of sunlight crept in through the wide front windows of Soeun's Corner.

The small wooden sign with the handwritten name still had glitter glued to the edges—Rina insisted on keeping it exactly the way Soeun had designed it, down to the backwards "S" in "Corner."

And every time Kira walked in to open the shop, briefcase in one hand and coffee in the other, she smiled at it like it was the most prestigious corporate logo in the world.

This morning, Soeun was already in place, seated on a stool behind the front counter with a pink headband and a serious look on her tiny face. Her "cash register" was actually a decorated toy keyboard. Her job? Loyalty card manager.

Well… kind of.

"Okay, ma'am," Soeun said solemnly to a customer who looked both amused and confused. "You've had two coffees, so I'll give you… seven stamps. Because your energy looks low."

The woman blinked. "Um… thank you?"

Soeun slammed the card with her pink dinosaur stamp and handed it over proudly. "Mama says kindness can be random."

From across the counter, Rina watched with a hand over her mouth, trying to hold in her laughter. She passed the customer their flat white with a wink.

"She takes after her mom," Rina said, brushing flour from her apron.

The customer smiled and leaned in. "You mean you?"

Rina laughed, gesturing toward the back. "Oh no, I'm just the soft one. She means the CEO one. Kira."

As if summoned, Kira emerged from the back hallway wearing a fitted button-up, sleeves rolled, tie slightly loosened. Her green eyes scanned the café with precision before softening at the sight of Soeun at the register.

"How many cards did you stamp this morning?" Kira asked as she approached.

Soeun didn't even blink. "Five. All of them. Multiple times."

Kira knelt beside her. "Sweetheart, the whole point of a loyalty card is to earn free drinks. Not start a revolution."

Soeun beamed. "But what if I want the world to have free coffee?"

Kira turned her head. "Rina, she's becoming you."

Rina leaned over the counter, grinning. "She's already the best of both of us."

☀️ The Midday Rush

The café filled quickly. Locals, regulars, and tourists all filed in as the morning warmed into late brunch hour.

Rina floated between tables with practiced grace, balancing coffee trays and sassy banter. "No, Daniel, two espresso shots before noon is not a personality trait."

Kira, meanwhile, kept her eye on logistics. Orders, inventory, espresso machine pressure—her sharp mind remained calm even as the register glitched briefly.

Only one person remained unpredictable: Soeun.

She had now turned a stack of napkins into "café dollars" and was handing them out to anyone who complimented her headband.

A woman seated by the window accepted one with amusement. "What can I buy with this?"

Soeun replied with all the seriousness of a world leader. "A cookie. If you ask nicely."

Rina gave Kira a look as she passed. "She's five, Kira."

Kira replied without missing a beat. "She's an entrepreneur."

📦 Flashbacks in Froth

Midday settled into a warm lull. Sunlight spilled onto the front tables while a soft indie playlist echoed from the café speakers.

Kira took a seat by the register, pretending to do inventory while watching Rina and Soeun across the room. Their daughter was now insisting every muffin have a "personality" before it was placed on the display tray.

"This one's grumpy," Soeun announced, handing a blueberry muffin to Rina. "He's allergic to mornings."

Rina played along, placing it on the shelf with dramatic flair. "Then he shall be our anti-hero muffin. Tragic and full of antioxidants."

Kira snorted into her iced Americano.

She wasn't always like this. Neither of them were.In the early days—when Rina was just the shy barista with crooked bangs and sparkling eyes—Kira had been all walls and deadlines. The woman who once signed contracts without blinking now found herself crafting animal toast for a preschooler's snack box.

And she didn't hate it.

She loved it more than any merger she'd ever executed.

🍼 Flashback: The First Night Home

Three years ago…

Kira paced the nursery with a swaddled, wailing bundle in her arms. Her silk blouse was wrinkled. Her perfect bun undone. There were spit-up stains on her shoulder.

Rina leaned against the doorframe, half-asleep but smiling.

"She's got your temper," Rina whispered.

"She's got your lungs," Kira replied, rocking gently.

They didn't sleep much that night. Or the one after. But Kira had held their daughter close, whispering quarterly projections like lullabies and promising her the world with every heartbeat.

☕ Present Day: A Quiet Moment

"Mommy, can I make the specials board?"

Kira blinked, pulled from her reverie.

Soeun stood in front of her holding a chalk marker and looking entirely too excited. "Please? I practiced my letters!"

Kira raised an eyebrow. "You'll spell everything right?"

Soeun grinned. "Probably not."

Kira handed her the pen anyway. "Go for it."

Rina leaned in from behind. "We've created a tiny chaos engine."

Kira exhaled, amused. "Yes, but she's our chaos."

Together, they watched as Soeun climbed her mini stepstool and wrote "TODAYZ SPECHULS" in bold pink chalk. She added a star, then drew a heart beside it.

Rina brushed her fingers lightly against Kira's as they stood side by side.

No rush. No pressure. Just warmth.

🎨 Art Projects and Accidents

Later that afternoon, Kira returned from a quick errand to find the back corner of the café had become an impromptu art studio.

Soeun had gathered a crowd of regulars—two university students, a middle-aged teacher, and the retired grandpa who always ordered black coffee—and passed out napkins as canvases. The center of the table held Rina's emergency kit of crayons and washable markers.

Soeun tapped her crayon to a napkin. "Okay, everyone draw your dream coffee. Go!"

Kira stared for a beat. "Rina, what is happening?"

Rina, carrying a tray of fresh pastries, grinned. "Community engagement. Also, I told her if she didn't scribble on the walls again, she could host 'art hour.'"

"And she listened?"

"For once."

Kira raised an eyebrow, only half-believing it, and leaned on the edge of the table. "What's your dream coffee, Soeun?"

Soeun proudly held up her drawing. It was mostly squiggles and a big red heart.

"This one's called 'Mama's Hug.' It's warm and happy and tastes like pancakes."

Kira melted on the spot.

💻 An Unexpected Meeting

That evening, Kira opened her tablet to check her schedule. A video conference reminder blinked at her—something she meant to cancel days ago. Instead, she took the call from the back hallway, behind the pantry shelves.

On screen: boardroom. Suits. Serious faces.

"Miss Seo," one of the investors said, "we were surprised to see your calendar open on a Saturday. Aren't you… running a café these days?"

Kira straightened her spine. "I am. And a household. And a future legacy, depending on how well Soeun runs her stamp racket."

The men looked confused.

Kira only smiled.

Rina popped her head in just then, holding a slice of banana bread.

"Sorry—muffin emergency. She said her muffin's sad because it's missing a friend."

Kira took the slice, winked at Rina, then turned back to the screen.

"Gentlemen," she said smoothly, "if you'll excuse me, there's a crying pastry I need to address."

She logged off without another word.

🧸 That Night – Bedtime

Soeun lay buried under three blankets and a plush mountain of stuffed animals. Kira sat beside her, brushing back her hair, while Rina folded laundry nearby.

"Mommy," Soeun whispered. "What did you love first? Coffee or Mama?"

Kira blinked. Rina glanced up from the basket.

Walking over, Kira knelt by the bed and kissed her daughter's forehead.

"I thought it was coffee," she said softly. "Until I met someone who made everything taste better."

Soeun grinned sleepily. "Mama?"

Kira nodded. "And you too."

A pause. Then Soeun giggled. "I think I'll love a barista too."

Rina choked on her laughter.

"Too soon," she muttered, wrapping her arms around Kira's waist from behind.

"Never too soon to have taste," Kira replied, grinning.

They kissed once, softly, quietly—then turned off the lights.

🌧️ Rainy Reflections

Sunday brought rain. Gentle at first—then torrential by noon. The windows of Soeun's Corner blurred with streaks of water, and the usual hum of conversation was replaced by cozy quiet.

Inside, the café felt like a cocoon.

Rina baked cinnamon rolls, the warm scent curling through the air like a blanket. Kira wiped down the counter with one hand, her other arm around Soeun, who leaned sleepily against her side.

"There's not gonna be many customers today," Soeun mumbled.

"Storms come and go," Kira said softly. "But cozy cafés stay."

"Like us?"

Kira kissed the top of her head. "Exactly."

📰 Soeun's Interview Series

Later that afternoon, Soeun announced she would be "interviewing all employees" for a "very official magazine" she had invented with construction paper.

Kira, naturally, was up first.

Soeun climbed onto a stool, flipped her notebook to a blank page, and adjusted her sparkly glasses.

"Interview #1: Mommy the Boss."

Kira tried not to smirk. "Proceed."

"What do you do?"

"Operations. Strategy. Logistics. Capital management."

Soeun blinked. "What does that mean?"

"I fix things and make sure no one gets sued."

"Cool. Do you like muffins?"

Kira nodded solemnly. "If they're not sad."

"Last question," Soeun said, suddenly very serious. "Why do you love Mama?"

Kira's eyebrows lifted.

From behind the espresso machine, Rina paused, holding her breath.

Kira looked at her daughter.

"Because she's sunshine in human form," she said finally. "And I didn't know I needed light until I met her."

Soeun scribbled furiously. "Okay. You pass."

Rina pretended not to cry into a dish towel.

🪞Vulnerability

The storm raged louder as the day wore on.

That evening, once Soeun was asleep in her cozy nest of plush toys, Kira and Rina sat on the couch with mugs of hot tea, the lights dimmed low.

Kira's gaze was far away. "Sometimes I feel like I'm still catching up."

"To what?"

"To… this. Us. You made me soft, Rina. You made me let go."

Rina took her hand, warm and firm.

"That's not weakness, Kira. That's growth. You built empires. Then you built a home."

Kira looked down. "You don't think I'm… lesser now?"

Rina smiled gently. "You're more. You're finally real."

And in that soft moment, thunder rumbling outside, Kira rested her head on Rina's shoulder—and exhaled.

🧁 A Surprise Visit

Monday morning, the rain had passed, leaving behind glistening sidewalks and that earthy smell that always made Rina nostalgic.

Kira unlocked the café while Soeun bounced beside her in mismatched socks, proudly declaring, "Today I'm the greeter!"

The bell above the door jingled. They looked up.

A woman stepped inside—elegant in a pantsuit, with an expensive umbrella and curious eyes. She glanced around, clearly not expecting the rainbow crayon drawings on the "Specials" board or the child with a plastic crown sitting at the counter.

"Kira Seo," the woman said, smiling faintly. "Still making unconventional choices."

Kira stiffened.

Rina peeked in from the back, flour on her cheek. "Friend of yours?"

"Former investor," Kira said, flatly.

The woman looked around again, this time with faint amusement. "This is your empire now?"

"No," Kira replied, pulling Soeun close. "This is my legacy."

The investor blinked.

Rina stepped forward, handed her a latte on the house, and smiled sweetly. "We serve dreams here. And muffins with mood disorders."

📋 Legacy Talk

Later that day, while Soeun was busy building a cardboard box rocket in the corner, Rina slid a folder across the counter to Kira.

"What's this?"

"Some ideas. For franchising. Or expanding the menu. Maybe an art wall for Soeun's chaos club."

Kira flipped through it, half-awed. "You made a pitch deck?"

"Of course. I've been watching you for years."

Kira paused. "You still want more?"

"Always. But only with you. And her."

Kira stared at her for a long moment. Then said, "You know… I thought leaving the boardroom meant letting go of ambition. But I'm starting to think we just redirected it."

"Exactly," Rina grinned. "Now we build things with love. Not just capital."

🐾 Soeun's Big Café Decision

Just before closing, Soeun stood on her stepstool behind the register, arms crossed and expression deadly serious.

"I have made a decision," she declared.

Kira and Rina exchanged glances. "Do we want to know?" Rina asked.

"I want a pet in the café."

"Absolutely not," Kira said instantly.

"A turtle," Soeun tried.

"No."

"A fish?"

"No."

"A muffin with eyes?"

"…Rina?"

Rina was already drawing googly eyes on a leftover banana muffin.

"Fine," Kira sighed. "But if it starts collecting tips, it's getting taxed."

They named it Muffin Jr.

Soeun was delighted.

🛋️ A Quiet Night

The day wound down slowly, golden light spilling across the counter as the last customer waved goodbye.

Kira flipped the sign to CLOSED.

Rina was already in the back, singing softly as she did dishes, sleeves rolled up, hair tied messily. Kira watched for a moment, heart aching in that quiet, full way she'd come to know only around Rina and Soeun.

She brewed two cups of herbal tea, added honey to Rina's, and walked over to set it beside her.

"Hot leaf juice?" Rina asked, teasing.

"Shut up and drink it."

They laughed.

Outside, the streetlights flickered on.

🕰️ Years Later – A Glimpse Forward

Soeun was twelve.

The café hadn't changed much—except now it had a second floor and a "Soeun's Art Wall" that local artists begged to contribute to.

She wore an apron too big for her, sleeves rolled and smudged with flour, barking orders at the espresso machine like a general.

Rina watched her from behind the pastry counter, grinning.

"She's turning into you," she said.

Kira leaned beside her. "You sure? I caught her bartering banana bread for an extension on a math assignment."

"…Okay, she's both of us."

They clinked mugs together.

Outside, a long line of customers stretched to the door. Soeun's Corner had become more than a café—it was a haven, a heartbeat, a quiet revolution made from warmth, wit, and caffeine.

💬 One Last Sip

That evening, Soeun tucked herself between Kira and Rina on the couch in their apartment above the café.

"Do you think Muffin Jr. misses me?" she mumbled sleepily.

"He's on the shelf with googly eyes and a cape," Kira said. "He's fine."

"Do you think I'll love someone like you two love each other?"

Kira and Rina looked at each other.

"I hope so," Rina whispered.

"But only if they make your world brighter," Kira added.

Soeun yawned. "I'll bring them here one day."

"We'll be waiting," Rina smiled.

And they sat there—three hearts, one home—wrapped in blankets, love, and the soft hum of a dream made real.

💌 Final Note

Some stories don't end.They evolve—cup by cup, line by line, love by love.From late-night code to early-morning coffee.From a barista's grin to a CEO's softened heart.From a corner of a café to the center of a life.

Thank you for staying until the very last sip.We hope you tasted the warmth, the laughter, the love.Because in this story, every brew was for you.

☕ Caffeine & CodeBy HEXELG