In case you're wondering, I'm trying to give the protagonist as little depth as possible. Heck, I really shouldn't have even given him an age. I tried to make him as average as possible: just a guy with a desk job and a decent wage. Your everyday, coffee drinking average Joe. Hopefully I've made him enough of a blank slate that you can put yourself in his shoes. Enjoy.
As fun as my weekend with Monika was, I would eventually have to return to my boring reality and go back to work. That day was today... and I almost didn't realize it until my alarm clock rudely awakened me.
BEEP BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP BEEP!
"AHHH!" Monika squealed as she leaped out of bed, clearly disturbed by the sudden noise of the shrieking contraption. I quickly snap to my senses and slam my hand on it, putting an end to the racket.
I look over at Monika; the poor girl has a hand on her chest as she struggles to get her breath back. I wish I could reach over and put a consoling hand on her, but she leaped out of bed like a rocket! But eventually, my concern comes to an end when her lips produce an embarrassed smile.
"Huff...huff...huff... whew... it was just an alarm clock." Monika sighed with relief. "I almost forgot those existed, ahaha~"
I groan and get out of bed, rubbing my eyes as I slip on some pants and head to the kitchen. Monika sluggishly followed behind me, still in her skivvies.
"It's 8:00, my love. Why are you awake so early? Do you have a job?" she asked groggily.
That's right... she didn't know yet. I hadn't told her anything about my work. No wonder she was surprised by the alarm clock; she probably thought there was no need for one, and we could just lay in bed for the rest of our lives with no schedule. If only life were that perfect...
"Yeah..." I mutter, still not coherent enough for a conversation.
"May I ask what your occupation is?"
"Ah, just some dumb desk job. It's not worth talking about, Monika sweetie." I grunt. I reach into the fridge and grab a can of orange juice, cracking it open and immediately taking a sip.
"Ah... s-so how long do you work?" Monika asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I work Monday through Friday, and I get off at 6."
"Aww..."
I turn and look at Monika; her face is so sad... aw man, how am I gonna concentrate at work knowing Monika is here waiting for me all by herself?
"I'm sorry, my love." I reply softly. "But I have to bring home a paycheck to support us. Th-that shopping trip kinda... ehh... well it set me back a LOT..."
"So I caused you to go bankrupt?! Oh no, I'm a terrible person!" Monika wailed.
"N-no I didn't mean...!"
But it was too late; Monika had her hands over her eyes and was sobbing. Oh boy... here we go again. Dammit, why did I even bring up that up? I made Monika happy yesterday, and that's all that matters. Time to use my silver tongue again...
"Monika.' I call out firmly. I reach over and pull her against my chest, cradling her in my arms.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Monika sobbed. "I'm just such a burden to you-"
"MONIKA."
"H-huh?"
I place my hands on each cheek and bring her face close to mine. I look into her eyes, with a gentle gaze to quell her distraught heart.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to make a good living for the both of us. I want you to live comfortably with me for a long time. I want to be able to buy you anything you desire. That's why I'm gonna go to work and do the best I can. For us..."
Monika looked up at me and sniffled a few times. "Y-you promise you'll come home right after?"
I press my lips against her forehead softly. "I won't spend another second away from you than I have to."
And thus, the tears once again dried and were replaced by joy. Heh heh... 3-0 now. Making Monika happy was my specialty. It's the least I can do, since she makes me so happy in return.
After getting dressed and eating some instant ramen, I still was mired by the stinging thoughts of going to work and leaving Monika here all alone. It just didn't feel right... but what was I supposed to do? I was the only source of income; this job was all we had. Maybe if I just gave her my tv remote, she could be entertained...
"Okay Monika, I have to go now." I firmly state. "The tv remote's on the couch, you're free to play whatever games you want or use my Internet. I don't have many books, but you can read whatever you fi-"
My sentence was cut short. Wh-why am I falling backwards?! OOF! I...I'm on the kitchen table now?!
I can feel Monika crawl on top of me. I look up: all I see is green. Her eyes penetrate my very soul, filling me with a rush of butterflies. Her brown tresses hang down, tickling my skin slightly enough to produce a shudder. I gulp, as I feel my pants tighten up from her weight pressing down on my pelvis.
"You weren't gonna leave without giving me a goodbye kiss, right~?"
Before I had time to react, the large green orbs in my face shut and her face closes distance on mine. I can feel the heavenly warmth of her lips collide with my own, and my blood boils like lava. Suddenly, my grogginess is gone; the heavy weight on my eyelids is removed. I feel like I just consumed an energy drink! Hell, I could run a marathon right now!
Monika's kiss sent a jolt inside me and my body sprang into action. I rose from the table, scooping her up and cradling her in my arms as I attack her neck with hungry kisses. Monika's feet flailed wildly as she giggles like a toddler.
"Hahahahaha! Ahhh! That's tickles! AHHH~"
My lips show no mercy as they coat every inch of Monika's neck with affection, before working their way back up her cheeks and all the way to her forehead. Something about Monika just makes me... lose control. When I feel her initial kiss, it lights a fuse inside me that makes my whole world ignite! Once again, I would have to hold myself back from... dammit...
With a dejected hang of my head, I distance myself from Monika and get off the table. She looks a little disappointed, so I decide to act fast with my words.
"S-sorry sweetie, I don't wanna be late for work. We'll have some more fun later, okay?"
Monika looks down and pouts. "Okay..."
I raise a foot towards the door... but I look at Monika's disappointed face. I can't just leave her like that...
"Hey." I call out.
Monika looks up just in time to see me plant a long, deep, loving kiss on her lips before pulling away with a loud smooch.
"I love you."
That immediately wipes the sad off her face. In no time, she's staring at me with rosy cheeks and the corners of her mouth vertical.
"Love you too! Bye, sweetie~"
I shut the door... and immediately, my chest aches. I can already begin to feel the debilitating effects of Monika Withdrawal. How would I survive this day? How could I pull out of my garage and drive away, knowing Monika is sitting there looking at me from the window? How can I stay out all day, knowing that the love of my life is sitting in solitude just waiting for the moment she could see the whites of my eyes again? And most importantly... how could I go on without the beautiful voice and soft touch that I've come to know over the last two days?
I just have to tell myself... no matter what I do, do it for Monika. Let her be my incentive. Let the pain and agony of being separated from her be rewarded at the end of the day when I come home to her smiling face. Let the dream of one day having a perfect life with her be the driving force behind my motivation.
Monika is my ambition. Just Monika.
That day, I worked like a man possessed. My fingers flowed perfectly on my keyboard and mashed the keys with pinpoint accuracy and swiftness the likes of which my colleagues had never seen. There was something about Monika that had just unleashed my untapped potential. I could feel energy coursing through me, keeping my mind focused, keeping my eyes on the beautiful prize at the end.
Before long, I had concluded with my work for the day long before anyone else had. I met my quota in record time; hell, I even offered to go around and help out some of my slower colleagues. No doubt, I sent a very strong message to my boss today. This was probably my best work day of my entire career... and I had Monika to thank for it. Just thinking about her makes me feel like I can conquer the highest mountains, overcome the most difficult obstacles... even transcend reality.
As I drove home that afternoon, I struggled to maintain the speed limit. The more I thought about Monika: alone, bored, waiting to see me... my foot pressed harder and harder against the pedal. But it wasn't just Monika... I was just as desperate to see her as she was me. After two glorious days with her, being away from Monika was physically painful. The pain was still raw, and the worst part was... I'd have to get used to it. I just had to remember my driving motivation behind going to work... to make a life worth living with her.
When I finally arrived home and pulled into my garage... it felt like I had just completed a long and treacherous journey. Not surprisingly, Monika was looking out the window waiting for me, no doubt a smile on her face as she heard my car door slam. My feet carried me swiftly to the door, where I finally was able to be greeted by the face I had been away from for so long.
"Welcome home~" she cheerily exclaimed, ambushing me with her arms wide. I didn't even have time to get my foot in the door before I was smothered by her! Not that I minded of course, heh heh.
"You miss me?" I ask, bringing my arms around her to complete the embrace. I know that was a rhetorical question, but it was a force of habit.
"That's a rhetorical question, don't you think~?"
Oh... she called me out on it. I should really stop underestimating Monika's intelligence. Hell, she's probably way smarter than me.
Before I had time to apologize for the derogatory question, a pair of lips on my neck rendered my thoughts obsolete. I feel my thoughts turn bubbly, my brain go fuzzy as Monika's lips go from my neck all the way up to my lips. The warm breaths from her nostrils tickle my skin, and I feel her love injecting into my bloodstream like morphine, alleviating all the negative emotions I carry in me. Suddenly, I feel like I hadn't just had a long, arduous day of work; I feel like I could go six more hours! Maybe eight! Of course, I wouldn't dare exercise that thought. It was Monika time!
Monika grabs my tie and jerks me forward, and I can only just barely reach the doorknob to shut the door behind me. Our lips immediately begin an intense tango, desperately trying to salvage the time lost between us. It's gonna suck to be away from Monika for nine hours... but if THIS is what I get to come home to? Maybe the pleasure is worth the pain.
As Monika's lips work against mine, I open my eyes and they dart around a bit. When I see the sight what befalls me... my eyebrows shoot up so high that they nearly escape my forehead.
"Mmm... like what I did with the place~?"
I pull away from Monika and look around, my eyes still struggling to return to their normal position.
"Monika, oh my god..."
Everything was... perfect. The floor was vacuumed, the windows sparkling, the decorative pillows on the furniture neatly arranged. The tv remote lie on the coffee table right where it should be. My videogames were all neatly stacked, with both controllers right beside each other.
I go into the kitchen, and get the same eyeful. All the appliances are neatly positioned, without a mess of cords and pieces laying around. The contents of the cabinets were arranged precisely, without a drinking glass out of place. I open the fridge... damn, we have less food than I thought. But whatever was actually in the fridge looked so damn perfect, it'd be a shame to reach in and grab anything.
"I kept busy while you were away, ahaha~" Monika giggled, putting her arms behind her back and swaying back and forth adorably.
"Monika... it's perfect." I whisper. "I... m-my house never looked this great..."
And that's not everything. MWAH~!" Monika replied, ending with a kiss on my cheek.
My next surprise comes when she directs me to the kitchen table, and my eyes are met with the pleasant sight of a steaming hot meal waiting for me.
"I already cooked us dinner~!"
I look down at it: on the left is a steaming hot bowl of rice with carrots, onions, and red and green peppers in it. But on the right is... something I've never had before. It's some crazy assortment of colors, blasting me in the face. It's almost mesmerizing to look at...
"Wh-what is it?"
"It's a three-bean salad~" Monika happily exclaimed.
"Um...I see..."
I stand there for a moment in silence, scratching my head. Finally, Monika sees fit to give me an explanation.
"...I guess I haven't told you. It's understandable."
I turn and look at her. "Huh?"
Monika looks down, her cheeks turning bright red. "Umm... well... I didn't say anything over the weekend because I didn't want to insult your hospitality. B-but... I'm actually a vegetarian."
I stand there and process what she said. Hmmmm... it kinda makes sense now. Last night, when she offered to help me cook dinner, she didn't seem too interested in cooking any meat. Now I know the truth. But I can't help but wonder if I should have known that already? Surely she would have told me this in Act 3? Dammit... I guess I didn't listen to Monika as much as I should have before... deleting her...
"...I'm so sorry, Monika." I quickly reply. Monika looks up just in time to receive my hug.
"Oh... n-no, I'M sorry... I'm being such a burden on you..."
"Nonsense! Look at everything you've done for me. You cleaned my house, cooked me dinner... and if you don't eat meat, then you'll never see me cook it again. In fact, we can save a lot of money by not even buying it!"
I put my hand on her chin and lift upwards, so her eyes are level with mine. "I'm so grateful for you, Monika. Never forget that."
I see Monika's lips curl into a smile just in time before they're smothered by my own. As we stand there in the kitchen and indulge in each other, my mind frantically processes everything that happened this evening. Monika continues to amaze me every passing second. She's just so perfect, and every time I think she couldn't be better... she blows my mind once again.
"Now then, let's eat~" she exclaims.
As we eat, my doubts were finally erased about the questionable meal. It's just as tasty as I'm sure Monika hoped it would be to a meat-eater like myself. It's amazing... cleaning house, cooking meals, waiting for me with a smile and a kiss... Monika was the perfect housewife.
...WAIT. D-did I just say that? Did I just say "wife"? N-no... it's too early for that... I think.
