Doppelgänger

01. Morning View

Dawn has greeted since a few moments ago. It always arrives on time, along with the chirping of the birds as a morning radio that pampers the ears, even with the cool breeze that directly hits the skin if a cloth does not cover it to warm it up.

But the air can cool the heart and mind, some even say that morning air is good for health. Zack immediately felt all these things as soon as he came out of the yard of his house and stood on the front porch at six in the morning.

He stared at the vast expanse of sky above through the gaps in the leaves from the nearby trees. Zack couldn't see the whole sky from where he was standing, but he thought this was enough.

Turning his gaze straight to stare at the trees that lined up irregularly right in front of him meters away, the leaves on each stem gently swaying every time a gust of wind hit, Zack also shuddered as his arm felt the current directly.

He wasn't lying, but it was freezing in here.

"The morning view is always beautiful and refreshing," he muttered with a small smile. "But to be honest, I'm so bored."

As far as the eyes could see, Zack only found that sight. He could not greet neighbours in the morning, and no other houses lined up to the right and left of his house. He could hear no different sound every morning except for the non-stop chirping of birds.

The guy was bored to death.

“Zack, what are you doing out of the house so early? Come on in, it's cold outside."

The man then turned his head when he heard his mother's voice rebuking him from inside. Sure enough, the woman was now looking at him with a confused expression because she saw her very tall son had come out of the room in the early morning like this.

Zack rushed over to his mother with a big smile plastered on his lips, clearly excited. "Mom, where is dad?" he asked while looking around.

"What are you doing, Zack?” Instead of answering, the mother asked another question. Because usually, Zack will act like that when he wants something.

"Where are dad now?" Zack repeated the same question.

"Why are you looking for Father, huh?” The middle-aged man who had been talked about earlier finally appeared from the house's back door. His right hand holds a hat that Zack often sees daily because his father always takes it when he goes to work. On the other hand, he is currently carrying an empty backpack for which Zack knows what it's used.

Apart from working, his father's activities today will also buy equipment and food ingredients that are almost finished. Could say a kind of monthly shopping in the city centre. And Zack, who has been paying attention to the dates since a few days ago, knows that today falls on the 19th—which means he will ask to go to town with his father.

His father approaches him with a big smile that has not yet faded from his tiny lips. "Father, is it okay if today I go to town?" he asked with a hint of a beseeching tone.

"What do you want to have to go with Father to town?"

“Today is the 19th. I know Dad will buy some items to stock up at home as usual. I want to offer to go around and buy all of that while daddy is away at work later, wouldn't that time be more effective? Father, there's no need to waste any more time, we can go right back after everything is done. Neither with Dad's work nor my time to shop," answered the man very smoothly.

However, Zack realized that his father was currently watching him closely. He learned the middle-aged man needed a more honest answer from Zack's lips.

"I'm just bored. It's been two weeks since we moved to this place, but I never go anywhere, I always follow the rules made by Mom and Dad. However, can I leave the house and go to town with you just for today? I want to go there, Father… please.” Zack began to issue his flagship moment by sulking at his parents.

He tried to melt his father's heart, hoping he would nod and agree to what he wanted.

Zack patiently waited when he found his father looking like he was thinking. He even exchanged glances with his mother briefly before she finally nodded. Even though they don't understand what they're talking about just by looking into their eyes, Zack still smiles broadly when he gets a green signal from the nod. 'Sure you can!' he cried joyfully because the father would usually allow it if the mother gave permission first.

Zack looked back at his father again. Both of his eyes twinkled brightly. "How is it, Father?"

"But you promise not to go too far from Father?"

Oh, come on, not again.

"Dad, I will have my 20th birthday in a few days. I'm already big, so I can't disappear even if I go far from my father," said Zack seriously. He's not annoyed. Just wanted to tell his parents that he was an adult and no longer considered a child.

Even though he is the only child who is always pampered and given great affection, that doesn't mean Zack will become a spoiled boy.

Zack is sure that he can take care of himself even though he is far from the two of them because this is not the first time Zack has been close to a crowd, he has already been through this fear.

“I know, but just in case. If you don't want to promise, Father won't permit you to come to town.”

"Okay, okay!" Zack answered quickly without pause. "Okay, I promise not to go too far."

"Okay, then you can get ready, we leave in twenty minutes." Zack immediately nodded and darted quickly to his room on the second floor to prepare as his father had ordered. If you have been given permission, then it should not be wasted.

It was undeniable that he felt pleased because, after two weeks of being away from the city, Zack could finally return there.