110. Going Out

Ashley chose a simple white blouse with long sleeves and a pair of dark jeans—comfortable but unpretentious. She slipped her phone into her bag, put on her sunglasses, and stepped quietly out of the house without telling anyone. She needed to get out. To breathe. To have some space.

Los Angeles wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. She had been here several times before during college trips, but always as a tourist. This time, it was different. Now she was a resident, although she felt more like a guest in her husband’s home.

She walked a few blocks until she found a small café tucked away on a street corner. The warmth inside, the aroma of coffee and butter, and the cozy hum of quiet conversations felt like a pause button on reality. She took a seat by the window, ordered a cappuccino and a slice of red velvet cake, and pulled out her phone.

Her right thumb swiped through screens, opening websites for courses, training programs, art communities, and even part-time job listings. She knew she wasn’t allowed to work yet, but doing nothing was driving her crazy. Three days had already made her feel like a prisoner.

Ashley sipped her coffee slowly, trying to savor the bittersweet flavor lingering on her tongue. Her fingers danced over the phone screen, opening one tab after another—searching for classes, art groups, even freelance job openings in LA. Soft music filled the warm air of the café, mingling with the scent of coffee and spices. But her mind was restless, a hollow space that didn’t know how to fill itself.

As she spooned the last piece of cake, a familiar voice cut through the quiet, making her stiffen instantly.

“Ashley?”

She looked up. Her heart seemed to freeze for a fraction of a second. Standing there was someone who belonged to the oldest part of her memory—Mark Jang.

“Mark?” Her voice barely contained her surprise.

The man standing before her smiled broadly. His face was older, more mature than she remembered, but those eyes—those eyes still held the laughter they once shared during secret study sessions in the school library.

“Oh my God, is that really you?” Ashley stood up and gave him a brief hug.

Mark chuckled. “How have you been? How many years has it been? Six? Seven? Last time we talked must have been when I graduated and left for LA.”

Ashley forced a small smile. “Something like that.”

Mark pulled out a chair opposite her. “Mind if I sit?”

“Of course not.”

They settled into their seats, and in an instant, the stiffness between them melted into something warm and familiar. Mark was still the same—cheerful, friendly, with that unmistakable Korean-English accent she’d grown up with.

“I never thought you’d move to LA,” Mark said. “Where are you living now?”

Ashley smiled faintly. “Bel Air.”

Mark’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s pretty elite. Here for vacation or staying?”

Ashley hesitated for a moment. “Staying. I… just got married.”

Mark’s expression shifted briefly, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “Wow, congrats. To... a Korean guy?”

Ashley laughed softly. “Yes.”

“Impressive.”

She only smiled faintly in response.

Reading the shift in atmosphere, Mark changed the subject. They talked about school, old friends, even funny incidents that time almost forgot. For a moment, Ashley felt alive again—not just the quiet, distant wife of Josh, but Ashley from before: smart, ambitious, full of ideas.

“Hey, by the way,” Mark said as he sipped his coffee, “what are you up to these days? Working?”

Ashley looked down, a wistful smile playing on her lips. “No, not yet. Actually, I’m not allowed to work. Just told to stay home.”

Mark raised his eyebrows. “You? Stuck at home? The Ashley I knew was so active.”

She nodded quietly, voice low. “Yeah. Just a housewife now. For... my husband.”

Mark seemed about to say something else but held back. “But you can still find other things to do, right? Like tutoring, joining an art community, or—”

“I’m looking,” Ashley interrupted. “I’ve been browsing job openings, courses, workshops…”

Mark smiled warmly. “Good. Don’t let your new status kill your spirit. You’re still you, Ash. You have to have your own space.”

His words felt like a gentle flame kindling inside her chest. Warm, soothing, but also a reminder of something she’d almost forgotten—that she still had the right to live as herself.

Thinking of Josh.

Of her new life, which felt like a golden cage.

And of Mark Jang—her past suddenly reappearing like an old friend, like the life she almost left behind.

Opening the front door, silence greeted her again—but this time, she didn’t feel as lifeless as she did that morning.

Mark rubbed the back of his neck as if realizing something. “I regret leaving you like that. But back then... you know—college, adjusting, living alone. I thought I could keep in touch later, but it just slipped away.”

Ashley nodded, unwilling to dig deeper into the past. “So you work here now?”

“I started a small company in creative marketing—digital ads and branding content. Not so small anymore. Nearly five years running.”

She nodded, impressed. “That’s amazing. You’ve always been ambitious.”

Mark laughed. “And you? How did you end up in LA?”

Ashley hesitated, took a breath. “I came back to Korea a few months ago to get married. Just arrived here yesterday. Now living here.”

Mark’s face froze briefly. His eyes caught something unspoken. “Married?” he asked softly.

“Yes,” Ashley nodded slowly. “My husband works here.”

Mark leaned back, exhaling deeply. “If I hadn’t left you back then... maybe things would be different.”

Ashley shrugged, trying to smile. “Maybe. But now it is what it is.”

“If only I had called you... if only I had been brave enough to bring you here...” Mark shook his head, his smile turning into a small, bitter smirk. “I regret it, but life goes on.”

“You? Anyone special now?” Ashley asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Mark laughed bitterly. “No one can stand me. They say I’m too busy, no time to care. I’m always working, dealing with clients, projects. They left one by one.”

Ashley nodded slowly. “That must be hard.”

“You know,” he leaned forward, “I still remember the time we skipped class together to watch a movie in the school auditorium. When you got upset because I fell asleep, and then we both ended up laughing.”

Ashley chuckled, eyes warming with the memory. “I remember. And you even snored softly.”

Mark laughed more freely this time. For a moment, time seemed to rewind—just briefly.

“So, what’s your plan now in LA? Besides being a good wife, of course,” he teased, winking.

Ashley held back a smile. “I don’t know yet. They say I can’t work. Just stay at home. But I’d go crazy if I don’t do anything.”

Mark nodded slowly, then pulled a business card from his wallet and handed it to her. “If you change your mind, or if your husband says it’s okay... my company is looking for a graphic designer. You used to design back in New Zealand, right? I remember you always brought sketches to school.”

Ashley took the card, glancing over it. “I’ll have to talk to my husband first.”

“Of course. Don’t want you getting scolded for taking a job from your ex,” Mark said with a playful tone.

Ashley laughed, though her heart tightened a bit. The word ‘ex’ felt strange—both distant and close.

They exchanged numbers before parting ways. Ashley walked off with a light step but a crowded mind. Amid the bustling LA streets, old feelings surged unexpectedly. Mark might just be a part of her past—but the meeting left something behind.

A space once empty was now filled again—not with love, perhaps, but with uncertainty.

When they parted, Mark asked for her contact details. She gave it after a brief hesitation—not sure if it was wise, but knowing this encounter made her feel alive again. She walked home with lighter steps. The LA sky had cleared; the morning mist had vanished, replaced by sunlight dancing on the sidewalks. But her mind was still crowded.

✕✕✕

The LA sky began to turn red as the sun sank below the horizon, illuminating the modern house that was now Ashley and Josh's new home. As the front door opened and Josh stepped inside, soft laughter could be heard from the living room. Ashley was sitting on the sofa with her phone to her ear, speaking in Korean with her mother.

“Yes, Mom. On Wednesday. They start work Wednesday morning,” Ashley said, scribbling in a small notebook on her lap. ”One person for cleaning and cooking. I've also talked about the job offer.”

From the other end of the phone, her mother's voice sounded sharp. “Ashley, you know our agreement. You mustn't draw attention to yourself. Don't let that job make people curious about who you really are.”

Ashley sighed. “I know, Mom. But it's just a regular graphic designer position. It's not prominent. No one will care.”

“Make sure of that. If the position isn't important and you won't be seen, then you can take the offer,” her mother replied more calmly.

Just as Ashley nodded in agreement, the sound of a door closing was heard. Josh stood at the doorway, his body slightly bent from fatigue. Ashley quickly hung up the phone and stood up, approaching him.