THE GUY THAT LOOKS LIKE ME (A SHORT STORY)

_Pixabay

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James smiled sheepishly at his reflection on the mirror. He was trying to form a knot with his tie. He had spent all night preparing for an interview. The two hours he used in resting was filled with dreams - he saw himself in front of the interviewers, and they were pleased with everything he said. Ever since Simon brought a Benz to the get together party they had last year, he had sworn to work in Dlanting Globals. Simon had only worked in the company for a year, and he has a house and two cars already. James believes he is smarter, outspoken and more intelligent than his old time friend, so if Simon could pass through the interview stage, he would pass it too. He brushed his hair, checked his self out once again and stomped out of his room.

He was living in a single room self contain. That's what he could afford with the little salary he's receiving from Vintage ltd. He tried to avoid his noisy neighbours; they would definitely ask him questions, because none of them has seen him in a suit. Just when he thought he had escaped them all, a lady called his name as he was about boarding a cab. He looked back and found out it was Stella. She was living in the apartment next to his.

"You look nice, James."

"Thank you," he said. He didn't wait for her to say anything else before entering the cab he'd stopped.

There were few people around when he entered the company. He arrived too early, and his interview was four hours away. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to wait for the interview at that time, so he used an excuse of looking for Simon. The receptionist looked at him for some seconds before showing him where to sit. Simon arrived an hour later, and they exchanged pleasantries. He also gave him likely questions the interviewers would ask, and he assured him he will get the job. Forty minutes to the interview, he went back to the receptionist and told her what he was there for. The lady was baffled and tried confirming what he said.

"Another Interview? I thought you are here for the mail you were sent."

"I don't know what you are talking about ma'am. Just tell me where I'll be having my interview."

"What's your name?" She asked, staring at him.

"Marcos James."

"Marcos?"

"Yes, Marcos."

She checked the list on her desk and was surprised to find the name.

"Okay, go to that office there." She pointed at a door opposite her. "Open the door and wait in the waiting room. You will see other applicants."

He noticed her countenance changed, but he thanked her anyway. The lady whispered something to her colleague, and both of them looked at him and smiled. He was sure their eyes were fixed at his back as he made his way to the waiting room. He hadn't sat for 20 minutes when he was called to come inside. He opened the door and saw three men. They were three in his dream too. This made him smiled and he was certain they will be pleased after the process. All of them had their eyes fixed on whatever they were writing down. He greeted them; they answered, but only one of them raised his head up.

"Mr. James?" One of the interviewers shouted. Others raised their heads up to look at him. The look on their faces was similar to the receptionist's.

"This isn't a playing ground where you can do anything you like. We are waiting for you to pick up your acceptance later for the post you applied for, and now you are here for a higher position?" The second interviewer said.

James became dumbfounded.

"You think shaving your beards would conceal your identity?" The third interview said. He had been going through his credentials.

"Yesterday, you were Clifford James. Today, you are Marcos James. How come you have two certificates with different names? Wow! They said there is nothing new under the sun, but here is one. It's new!"

"I don't know who Clifford James is. This is the second time I'll step foot into this company. My first time was during the aptitude text which I passed." He remarked.

The interviewers looked like him like he was speaking gibberish.

"You will be arrested for this. And for your information, you won't get any of the jobs."

He was drenched in sweats already. He concluded it was a test. Perhaps they want to know how he will react to the situation on ground. Then he cleared his throat.

"I'm sure you have Clifford's contact. You can call him to come meet us. I will be here waiting to see my doppelganger. My surname is Marcos, not Clifford. Let's continue with the interview, shall we?"

The door opened immediately and two policemen came in. He started doubting if it was actually a test. One of the policemen walked up to him and lifted him up. He was twice the size of James.

"Young man, you are arrested." The big man said while holding on to his shirt.

"Wait, please. On a second thought, let's have that interview." The third interviewer said.

_Pixabay

His ironed shirt was roughened already, and the look on the policemen confirmed they were anxious to take him out.

"Mr. James, several people applied for this position. Why should we pick you?"

He looked at the interviewer, but he was lost of words. He tried saying something, but nothing escaped his lips. He was staring at the big policeman at intervals.

"If this is a test, then I'm sorry I failed. I don't want the position again, please. I just want to go home." He started crying.

"Take this man out!" The first interviewer shouted.

Just as they were about taking him out of the office, the receptionist bumped into them. She had seen the policemen walked through the door, so she knew what was happening. She looked at the crying James and asked the policemen to wait.

"He isn't Clifford James. Clifford is in the reception."

The interviewers stood up in shock to confirm what the lady had said. They went out and saw Clifford sitting comfortably in the reception. The policemen brought James out in time. Then their eyes met. James' jaws dropped. He was staring at himself.

"We are sorry for the inconveniences, Mr. James. We can schedule your interview to tomorrow." The first interviewer said, while handling his credentials to him.

"His name is James too? What a small world! How come you look so much like me?" Clifford exclaimed.

"You don't know him? You guys are not twins?" The receptionist asked.

"I'm a twin actually, but my other twin is a girl." Clifford replied.

James kept staring at Clifford, he wanted to be sure he wasn't dreaming. The interviewers were waiting for him to say something, but he was muted. He left the company and took a cab.

"How can I get to Akure from here?" He said to the cab man.

He was going to see his mother. He believed in doppelgangers, but what he saw was far from it. There is only one explanation to it, and his mother had better give him the answers he need.

The End.

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@afolwalex writes.

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