Myungsoo pushed the shopping cart drearily down aisle fourteen, his basket wasn’t even half full and he had been at the

supermarket for almost an hour.

He didn’t know what he really needed, he just wanted to get out of the house. It was too hectic in there. It felt like he hadn’t had a

peace of mind in years, not since high school anyway.

But that was three, almost four years ago. Myungsoo coming to the end of the aisle, made a left turn into the produce section of

where he had to do a double take on someone picking out apples. He stared, that face was certainly familiar, its structure was

distinct, and there was

something you couldn’t miss, a face that was certainly beautiful, it gave him warmth in the pit of his stomach.    

     “J-Jessica? Jessica?” he asked hesitantly.

Myungsoo made sure he was ready to take off in the other direction if the woman had said no. She looked up and smiled, Myungsoo

quickly gave a sigh of

relief that it was someone he did recognize. Jessica quickly walked over giving him one of her signature hugs, just like the ones she

had given him in high school.

      “Myungsoo! It’s so nice to see you again!” Jessica exclaimed, then stepping back.

Myungsoo examined her carefully. He assumed nothing had changed about Jessica except her appearance. She was much skinnier

now than she was

back in high school; her hair was in a stunning shade of blonde just the way she dreamed about back then. Jessica was in high black

velvet pumps and a

beige trench coat that showed off her long legs. Myungsoo had always thought she was pretty, but now it seemed as if she was just

someone so stunning,

like one of those models one would see on a runway.

They were best friends back in high school but now why did it feel like they were almost strangers, like he knew nothing about her

anymore. Myungsoo knew that after they graduated, Jessica just sort of disappeared.

Her social networks were gone and he couldn’t even locate her sister to know her whereabouts.

And she now turns up randomly at his local supermarket?

          “What have you been up to?” he asked, “I haven’t really heard anything about you since graduation.”

          “Just here and there,” she waved off, “Nothing really important.”

          Myungsoo quickly got an idea, “Let’s catch up, like right now. Are you willing to get ice cream with me?”

          “Sure.” Jessica replied, with no hesitation.

They arrived at the ice cream shop that was once their hangout after school on those hot days. It hadn’t changed, except for the

management and the addition of ice cream flavors.

It had brought a feeling of nostalgia to the both of them when they walked in. She ordered her strawberry ice cream and he his

chocolate and they both ate by the table near the window.

          “How is everything?” he asked, breaking the silence.

          “Good,” she replied, “I’m about to open up my own restaurant.”

          “How did that happen?” Myungsoo asked, “Where?”

          “I went to culinary school for two years and for the past two and a half I’ve worked my way up to becoming a chef.” Jessica

said, with a smile, “It’s going to open down in Gangnam. What about you?”

Myungsoo was surprised, back then Jessica didn’t even know what she wanted to do, and found every possible way to get out of the

topic that was college.

          “I don’t have a job at the moment,” Myungsoo said sheepishly, “I quit the firm I was in when we got out of high school, all the

other firms have been working slow so there really isn’t anyone hiring.”

          Jessica nodded, taking a bite of her sugar cone, “You’ll get there at some point. Everyone does.”

          “Yeah,” Myungsoo said with a smile.

Even if the whole world was ending Jessica could manage to find a way to assure that everything was going to turn out okay. A beep

interrupted Myungsoo’s thoughts.

Jessica quickly stood up, her eyes glued to her phone. She tossed the napkin away and picked up her Gucci purse.

          “I’m sorry, I have to go.” She said, “Its restaurant business.”

          “That’s okay,” he said, “Let’s exchange numbers?”

          “Yeah sure,” she said, taking out a business card, “Here, I’m always available on my cell.”

          “Hey Jess,” Myungsoo called.

          “Yes?” she said turning back, her brown eyes blinking at him.

          “What happened to us?” he asked.

          She gave a soft, almost regretful smile, “I’ll let you know.”