slacking off

The restaurant I am working at has a small storage room located at the basement parking area. It was a good 2 minute walk from the basement entrance. Its where we store some of our products. We can’t fit everything inside our kitchen.

When needed, I go down there myself. Sometimes, even when I dont need to, just to kill some time and slack off. I uses to play mobile games there, so no one could see me. Our restaurant often have dead times, so I need to find ways to pass the time until I get to go home.

Tonight was pretty uneventful. It was the weekend, so offices were closed. We don’t get much walk – ins either. I decided to go down the basement storage room.

I asked for the key and access card from our cleaner who usually is the safekeeper of it. He asked me what I needed down there so he could get it himself. I told him I’ll get it myself.

As I got out of the restaurant, I immediately grabbed my phone out my back pocket. I turned on the data and opened up my favorite mobile game.

I got down the basement using the elevator. The parking area was empty. Not even one car. Everyone is at home enjoying their days off. Good for them.

I walked towards the storage room. Every step I take produces loud echoes.

I opened the storage room door using the key. I got in the room and opened the lights. Not much has changed since I last came here. The shelves in the middle were full of food items. The chillers can barely function with all the meat inside. There were some other boxes on each side of the room. It wasn’t a big room, but it was enough.

I sat down on the ground on one corner and leaned on the boxes. I played my game. I played at least 3 rounds of it. It was an online strategy game.

My eyes never left the cellphone screen. I was too focused on the game.

Then I saw something from the corner of my eye. There was someone near the doors. There was only one door in and out. I can’t see the figure completely because of the shelves in the middle of the room.

My heart stopped. I can’t move. I started sweating. The figure slowly moved towards me, but I cant see all of it. It was moving towards me. If it reaches the end of the shelves and in front of me, I might be able to see what it is completely.

It was moving slowly. I was fixated to it. I cant move.

Then I saw it. It was a man. It was me. It stared at me and I stared at him. I was in shock. My jaw dropped.

It was really me. He looked at me with a straight face. He was exactly like me. He wore the same clothes as me. He didn’t move after that. He just stood there in front me and stared at me.

I got up and went straight to the door and out. I forgot to lock the door. I rushed back to the elevators without looking back, afraid that he was behind me.

As the elevator doors opened, I quickly got in and pressed the button. The doors seemed to close at a very slow phase.

The elevator doors opened and I’m back to the ground floor. I ran towards the restaurant. When I got back in front of the restaurant, I saw him. I saw me, working. How could that be? I wasn’t able to move.

I watched my doppleganger take orders, serve food and interact with the guests.

Then he saw me outside through the glass window panes of our restaurant. I couldn’t hear him but I understand what he mouthed towards me.

“Go finish your game. I got it from here”.