doppelgänger [completed]

four.

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For a few days in his demoted position at work, Jimin continues to wear his nice, business-like outfit every morning even though he heads down a level to the mail-room instead of to an important floor above. For a few days, he convinces himself with every therapeutic practice he's ever used that this is temporary, and that this worthless feeling will pass.

But it's on the fifth day that he succumbs to simple khakis and a black shirt, and puts a cap on his head instead.

He looks at himself in the mirror and hates what is staring back at him.

"You're disgusting," he says to his reflection.

He's unimpressed and triggered from dark corners of his past. The muscles in his cheeks are weak and the bags under his eyes are noticeable. The cap helps hide the depression on his face, yet if someone were to look close enough they'd see it right away.

Unfortunately for him, no one really pays attention to Park Jimin.

He stares at himself for a long time. He sees a few strings on his shirt that are starting to unravel at the hem. His white sneakers are dirty on the sides and he wishes he had the energy to clean them before he starts his shift.

He picks up the front of his shirt to examine his stomach, and swears he looks bloated. Maybe it was the endless ramen he ate all week instead of the fresh chicken his mother had brought him from the local market. When was the last time he had a vegetable or even something remotely healthy? His workout this week had subsided due to lack of enthusiasm and energy.

He turns to the side.

"You always let this happen," he says to himself. "You can't just stick to a routine, right?"

Jimin drops his shirt and rubs at the skin under his eyes.

"Remember when you used to care about how you looked? Or how you dressed?"

He adjusts his hat, pulling out blonde strands on the side in hopes of looking somewhat stylish. But his hair is dirty from not showering, and instead he looks greasy and unclean.

He picks his hat up and pushes his hair underneath of it.

He hates this look.

He hates himself.

"You should be lucky you still even have a job," he says to his reflection. "Maybe next week will be better,"

Jimin grabs his keys and his wallet. He shuts off the light and heads outside to start his unfortunate day.

From inside the mirror, a piece of Jimin's reflection re-appears like a summoned, spectral mirage.

And it smiles.

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