"When I got home, I'll tell you my secret. And I hope, you'll still love me after that," She said.

That's the last message of my wife before she was gone missing.

I spent my sleepless night waiting at the opened door; tracing her footsteps, her shadows or even her presence. But all of these are nothing to be found for almost 6 years.

Fear, hatred and hope. First I was frightened that maybe she is dead. Second, I believed at my friend's intuition that she ran away with another man. But now, I am hoping that she is living somewhere, healthy and happy. It's been six years honey. Six years.

"It's 51$," old woman, Lily, said. Mrs. Lili Park is 85 years-old, suffering from Alzheimer disease, yet continue on selling fruits near to my apartment. She is a great businesswoman though.

"Here is 60$ Mrs. Park," I said and laid the money on her wrinkled hand.

"It's keep the change?" she teased. Told ya'.

"Oh sure," I chuckled. "That is for thanking Mrs. Park. You always gave me sweet fruits."

"Not a big deal son. Anyway, how's your wife? (y/n)?"

Mrs. Park loves my wife so much, so it won't help her health  if I tell that (y/n) gone missing. "(y/n)'s good. She gets bigger and bigger everyday. I asked her to watch her weight or I'll run away from home."

"You bad jerk!" She hit my head.

"Ahhh!"I winced.

"Why would you left her just because she is getting fat?! Come on! Give my fruits back!"

"You are so bad Mrs. Park, I was only joking." I pouted.

Mrs. Park suddenly laughed. "I know son. You love (y/n) so bad. Aren't you?" Now she patted my head.

So much. I really love her so much. I do. I do. But why? Why didn't she come back?

"Son? Joshua? Are you okay? Your eyes are all red," she noticed. My eyes?

I held my wet cheeks. Damn, I am crying again. "I-I'm okay. I j-just miss my wife so much. So I am going home now." I wiped my tears and quickly drew a sad smile on my face. "Bye Mrs. Park. Take care."

"Okay son. I bet your wife misses you too. Take care on your way back home!"

I walked on empty streets on the way to my apartment. Few meters away, A lady bumped her shoulder on my arm. "Ah!" she winced. Then the bag of my fruits slipped down from my hands. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry," she apologized as she put the fruits back in the bag.

My eyes went on her slim fingers, to her curled long hair and to her thin figure. Suddenly, my heart races in fast pace!

"Sorry for not looking in the way, mister," she added. Her voice... it sounds like hers. She stood up, offering the bag back to me. Finally, she met my gaze, and it feels like my world turns round very slow. So slow. And it stopped!

"(y/n)," I muttered. The tears I held back before flow down like a dam to the river. I inhaled sharply, only to calm my heart that is almost bursting in ache.

"(Y/n)?" she asked back. Her eyes, her nose, her lips and even her voice, it resembles my wife perfectly. But something is missing. There is no love in her eyes. She is looking me as if I am a complete stranger. B-But why? Am I forgotten?

"(y/n), what are you doing? We need to move the boxes!" A man walked closer and held her wrist. Who is he?!

"Oh, Mingyu, I'm sorry."

Mingyu?

The guy named Mingyu looked at me. "Who is he? And why is he crying?"

"I bumped at him accidentally a moment ago. But he is not talking that much. Do you think I bumped him to much that he'd cry?" she answered.

"Maybe. Your body looks like it made from stone,"he chuckled.

"Do you want to die?!" she threatened with a fist.

What is this? I met my wife after six years but... this is kinda weird.

I wiped my tears and started to ask, "Who is... Mingyu?"

The two looked at me. The guy put his arm around her shoulder and it made me... so mad. "I am her older brother. Now that I look closely at you, bro, you are handsome. What is your work? Are you interested on marrying my little sister?"

"Are you crazy!?" she hit his tummy with her elbow.

"Ahhh!" he winced.

Then she bowed on me. "I'm sorry for my brother's rudeness. My name is Sally. And my family is moving in this neighborhood. I hope we'll see each other again. Bye!" she pulled Mingyu away and I was left alone staring at the blank space.

(y/n) doesn't have a family. She has the same face and same voice but she is not my wife. Is that even possible?

They said in this world, we at least have six persons who look like us. Then, is that mean that I met someone who looks like my (y/n)?

The next day, I went back to Mrs. Park fruit stand to buy some pears. "Good morning Mrs. Park. Can you give me 5 pears?"

"Good morning son. Oh? What happened? You have a huge eye bags," she noticed. It was because I couldn't sleep after I met that woman.

"Y-Yeah. I didn't sleep that much."

She gave me the bag of pears and I gave her the money. "I guess, you and your wife did sweet things on bed every night?" she teased that made me blushed. Gosh~

"T-That is not true Mrs. Park," I stuttered.

"What's wrong? You are a married couple," she continued.

I am about to appeal when suddenly, a customer went in the stand. "Hello pretty grandma. Can I buy four apples and 3 oranges?"

That voice...

I slowly looked at her side. "Oh? You are the man from before!" she pointed her finger on me.

"So your wife is here! Why did you come just now!" Mrs. Park exclaimed and held her hand in tears. " I miss you so much (y/n)."

She looked at me, confused and her eyes asked me a lot of questions. So Mrs. Park also thinks that she is my wife huh. Now, how should I explain this?

"Your husband always came here, why didn't you come along?" Mrs. Park continue.

I leaned on her ear and whispered, "That grandma is suffering from Alzheimer disease. And she thinks you are my wife. Could you help me a bit? I don't want to confuse her so please act like my wife."

Her eyes widened, follow by a huge gulp. Then after seconds, she nodded. "O-Oh yeah grandma, ha-ha. I'm sorry for coming just now. My husband treat me like a queen that he doesn't like it if I move to much. You know, we are having our first baby!" then she holds her tummy.

Baby?! Wait. Wait. That is not even necessary! I am about to explain it but she already clings on my shoulder, pulling me closer. What the hell?!

"I knew it!" Mrs. Park laughed. "That's why Joshua has dark eyebags. He pleased in you in bed, didn't he?"

The two of us freeze on the spot. And I feel so embarrass. Hot.

"Eyyy, don't need to be shy. It's natural. Okay, to congrats for your first baby, these apples and oranges are free." Mrs. Park gave the bag on her hands. "Now go and take your time together. It's bad for the baby if you stay outside that much."

The two of us slowly walked away, both are blushing.

She removed her hands. "S-Sorry, I put you in an awkward position." She couldn't look into my eyes. Well same on my side.

"N-No. It was my fault. Sorry," I apologized.

Now we looked at each other. Damn it. She really looks like my wife that my heart keeps beating when I'm around her!

"So your name is Joshua?"

"Y-Yes. Sally, right?"

"Hmmm."

"I'm sorry again."

"No. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You said that grandma suffers from Alzheimer. So it's a given. I am glad to help, though, I am not good at lying. Hehe."

"Can I... ask something?"

"Yes?"

"Are you a biological daughter of your family? Did you grow up with them? Did you ever suffer from memory loss or something?"

She blinked. After some seconds, she laughed. "Okay okay. Those are weird questions from my new neighbor." she stopped after forging a cough. "Ahem. So, for your first question, yes I am a biological daughter of my parents. I grow up with them since the day I was born until now. And I didn't suffer from any memory loss."

So she is not really my wife.

"Now is my turn," she continued. "Can I ask something?"

"What is it?" I replied.

"Mr. Joshua, you are so weird yet gentle looking. I think you are cute but please don't see this as if I am flirting, okie dokie? Well how should I put this? I love unique personalities yet innocent at the same time. So I am asking you... can you be my friend?"

Now she offered her hand.

Is it okay for me to have her as my friend? A girl who looks like my wife? I am not sure. But I accepted her hand and smiled back.

I didn't know that this handshake is the first step for me to fall in love again, to secretly fall in love with the girl who looks like my wife.

Time passed by.

After getting to know more about Sally, I found out that she and my wife have a lot of differences. (y/n) hates peanut, while Sally loves it. (y/n) loves dog, Sally loves cat. (y/n) loves indoor games, while Sally loves being outdoor. They are complete opposite to each other.

"Ahhhhh, that movie is so great," she yawned when we got out from the cinema. It is only a friendly date though.

"Great you say? But you were snoring so loud that I almost put the whole can inside to shut you up," I said.

"Hahaha. Sorry. Well, movie is not really my thing."

"I know. So why did you watch movie with me?"

"Was it wrong to watch a movie with a friend?!"

No. But you are giving me hope for this one-sided love. And you are also making me feel guilt since I am still a married man. The divorce paper won't validate without my wife's consent. I feel like the worst guy ever.

"Let's go home, " I responded and started walking. She followed and walks on my side.

"Joshua. You know... you are a little... well uhmmm. We knew each other for months. But you are a little mysterious. Are you hiding something from me?" Yes I am.

"Maybe?"

" 'Maybe?' What kind of answer is that. Come on, tell me," she swings my arm, front and back.

"I won't. Next time I'll tell you."

"Oh you are so kj. Tell me!"

I stopped walking and holds her wrist. With my serious glare, she gazed on me with her sparkling eyes, waiting for my answer.

"Do you really want to know my secrets?" I asked.

"Of course! Tell me. I'll tell you my super duper secret too."

Sally. My wife gone missing for years. You look like her and that was the reason why I befriend you. But I didn't know that my heart will deceive me. I love you. I really now love you. But I can't say it. I won't. Not until I found her. For now, this love is wrong. So let's stay friend.

" I'm not a virgin anymore," I said, then I walked again.

"Pfttttt hahahahhah!" she bursted in laugh as she follows me from behind. "What?! Wait! I thought you are so innocent! I didn't know that you are that kind of a man!"

Well, I am a married man so that's a given. God says that sex is for married couple only. So I am a good guy after all.

"Forget it. Let's just go home," I said, face is so red.

"Wait!" she held my hand. "I have a secret too."

Before my wife went missing, she said that she is going to confess a secret to me. Now Sally brings this up, it reminds me of that painful day.

"What secret?" I replied.

Sally smiled as she pulled her hand back. "It is about my work. We still have time right? I'll bring you to my workplace." Then she pulled me.

We rode on a taxi and arrived at a remote place near to the city. She is working here? Very odd. I wonder what her work is. She led me to a basement, it is so dark. "Is this really your workplace?" I asked before she opened the metal door.

She didn't answer. Instead, she opened the door and went it. "Come."

I dragged my feet inside a mysterious place. My body feels shivers by the cold aura, yet I don't see a thing at all.  She turned the lights on, and my eyes widened when I saw these things that is inside. There are huge tubes of water, apparatus and water in different colors. It looks like a laboratory. What is this place?

"I am working under the government," Sally said as she wore a doctor's white gown.

"Are you... a doctor?" I asked.

"Hmmm, more like a researcher? Well, I am legally experimenting something with the government's support. I started seven years ago, but my first experiment gone wrong." She slowly lifted the white blanket.

THERE I SAW A MANNEQUIN... NO! IT IS MORE LIKELY ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WHO EXACTLY LOOKS LIKE HER!

"W-What is that?"

"She is my clone. Well, my 68th clone. I am working to try if human cloning is really possible. I used myself as the subject, since I don't want to use innocent people for this. My first project was almost a success. But my first clone has escaped, seven years ago. Afraid that something bad might happen, I moved away to Paris with my family since the clone gone missing. But because she is not a success product, I know that she'll die without a trace after some years. So I came back and continue my work."

My hands feel numb. My knees weakened and tears are about to fall down. But I held it while gritting my teeth. I clenched my fist and breathe out. Then I asked, "Your first clone. Does she have a scar on her neck?"

"Oh!" she gasped. "How did you know!? I accidentally wounded her neck by mistake!"

Now... tears are falling from my eyes.

"J-Joshua? W-Why are you crying?"

I bit my lower lips and cried so hard. "I didn't know that I fell in love with the one who made my wife."

"W-What do you mean?"

I looked at her, and answered, "My wife... is your clone."

----

The end...

a/n: T^T