Chapter 4: Fix Me, Fill Me
"Yo, what took you so long?" Mark asked with his arms crossed and slightly tapping his foot.
Mark has finally done switching outfits, from wearing a school uniform to casual attire, wearing a checkered polo and denim pants, still wearing his iconic beanie.
"Sorry, dude, I was just checking my CPU for a bit," I replied.
"Oh, okay," he smiled after. "Let's go! I contacted my friend that we'll be coming shortly," he followed.
"Cool! Is it near here?" I asked.
"Yup! Few blocks away from here, we can go there even by just walking," Mark replied. "I'll help you bring that if you got tired."
"Okay, okay, thanks, let's proceed," I cut off quickly.
After bringing the computer outside the building, Mark led the way to the repairs and I just followed grabbing the unit by my right hand.
"So how did you met the repairman?" I asked to begin the conversation.
"Oh, him? He is my big brother's best friend, he always come over to my house when I was young, and he played with me a lot when I was young, haha," Mark cheerily replied. "He is a very nice guy, you don't need to worry whether you'll get the discount or not," Mark then put his hands on his waist and proudly laughed again.
"That is not really what I was for, and I don't care if I get the discount or not," I coldly replied.
"HAHAHAHA, you are really a shy guy, aren't ya?" Mark looked back at me and started laughing loudly again. "I got ya, don't worry, AHAHAHA."
This guy is really weird. I don't understand why he is too kind for me, even if we just met yesterday. He is really nice but sometimes part of me think he is too proud of himself.
"We're here!" Mark said as I began to put down my computer and breathed heavily because of it being heavy. "I told ya, we won't take long, how long have we been walking?"
"Well, it took us 12 minutes to walk here, so it's not that bad," I replied tired.
"Here, let me bring that inside, I'll negotiate with the guy," Mark grabbed my CPU and entered the repairs, wasting no time.
I entered the repairs as I see a bunch of workers fixing various appliances. Some are repairing broken fans, microwaves, blenders, and any other stuff. There's parts hanging everywhere as I think they are also selling parts such as wires, sockets, nails and screws.
"Joel!" Mark called as a guy in his mid-20s approached him giving him high-fives and any other bro-handshakes.
"Hey Mark, long time no see," the man rubbed Mark's beanie. "What brought you here today?" Joel asked very cheerily.
"I know, it's been a while, I just want to get my friend's computer fixed," Mark replied.
"Oh, so is this your friend? Hey, nice meeting you, Joel here," he then gave me his hand.
"Hey, good afternoon, my name is Rex," I grabbed his hand and shaked it.
"You see Joel, Rex and I are working on our school project, but apparently this thing broke, and our files were saved in here, too," Mark abruptly said.
I quickly nudged Mark, "Hey, what are you talking about," I whispered.
"Don't worry dude, I got this," he whispered back.
"Oh... That doesn't sound really good, I got this guys, we'll try to fix this thing faster," Joel said worrily. "Let me check what's wrong in here, okay?"
"Sure, haha thanks man," Mark replied then looked at me. "See?"
I responded with an uncomfortable face, and just sighed.
"Okay, so it seems like the fan is critically damaged and some wires need to be changed." Joel informed. "The memory of this thing, seems to not have been damaged at all, but replacing these wires might be a meticulous work."
"Thank goodness," I replied. "How long will it take you to get this done?" I asked.
"By Saturday, I think," Joel replied.
"When is the deadline of your work anyways?" Mark whispered to me.
"By Wednesday," I replied worrily.
"Can't it be any earlier?" Mark requested to Joel again.
"Well, this is a tedious work, so if by anything, Thursday is the earliest." Joel replied.
"It's okay, Mark and I can catch up, anyways," I quickly replied so that Joel cannot be stressed.
"Don't worry guys, I'll be working hard on this one, come back here by Thursday, and it's certified repaired," Joel said positively.
"That's good!" Mark replied. "But how about your work," Mark whispered to me again.
"I can handle it, I'll just repeat my lost progress, all good," I whispered to him back.
"If you say so," Mark said. "Thanks for the help, Joel, I'm glad that this thing can be fixed... Oh and by the way, about the price?" Mark followed up.
"I usually charge $100-150 on this damage but since Mark is my long time friend and this is for your project, I think $75 is enough," Joel said confidently.
Mark looked at me with a very stupid smile. "Told ya!" he whispered as I pinch the bridge of my nose as a bit of disapproval.
"Wow, thanks, dude!" Mark cheerily replied, I'm really glad I went here. Mark laughed loudly.
"And I sure am real glad to help," Joel replied laughing proud and loud same as Mark.
Well, they really are friends as I facepalmed and the two just kept laughing and laughing while grabbing each other's shoulders.
As Mark and I went back to our apartments, we chit chatted a bit about how crazy Joel is and how right Mark always is. Halfway there, my stomach started to growl.
Mark laughed out loud.
"What?" I annoyingly asked.
"You're hungry, aren't ya?" Mark said. "I'm hungry, too, I'm in for some tacos!"
"Sorry, I'll pass, I have no time to eat," I replied passively. Seriously, I think I need to go back to the company by this hour, or Boss will speculate that I'm not overworking because I don't feel like it.
"No time? Eating? Are you some sort of an immortal that you'll prioritize anything else than eating," Mark questioned me. "C'mon, the taco shop is here nearby, let us eat, I'm hungry too, and I need someone to eat with" he reasoned out.
"Fine, fine, I won't treat you, okay?" I annoying replied.
"Aww man, you're too harsh, well I don't mind your treat, I just wanna eat," Mark said poetically.
"Well that ryhmed well," I said. Mark was confused as we proceeded to the taco shop Mark recommended.
After ordering tacos, Mark and I found a seat and started munching the tacos quietly. After a moment of silence, I then asked him a question that has been bothering me the whole time.
"Hey Mark," I called him followed by Mark looking to me, mouth full. "I was just wondering since we met just yesterday, why are you being so helpful and extremely nice to me all of a sudden?"
After asking him that question, Mark choked his taco as I immediately handed him the water. After he swallowed, he laughed loud.
"I'm really glad that I could be really helpful, but it just that the way you panicked so much last night bringing your smoking CPU, means that you're having a pretty bad day." Mark replied calmly. "I thought that I can make your day lighter, or something like that, and we can be friends, since we've been neighbors for months and we never had any bit of conversation."
"Oh... Well thank you, I shouldn't have asked," I embarassingly replied.
"Did that bother you?" Mark asked. "You know I'm not really a fan of gay relationships so we can just be friends," Mark jokingly said and began laughing hardly.
"What the- no I'm not into that, you idiot," I angrily replied getting more embarassed.
"HAHAHAHA, I'm just joking man," Mark kept laughing loud.
"If you mentioned that again, you'll go home limping," I angrily said, while clenching my fist.
Mark just started laughing louder as we finish our meal and began going back to the apartment. Once we got to the building, we then part ways, as he entered the building and I went to the parking lot to grab my motorbike and went back all the way to work. One thing just came to my mind, this dude is one of a hella crazy fella.
I'm back at work again, ready for my night shift. I stretched my arms to get energized, I never really got any good sleep you know. I entered the empty office, no one was inside, I was not used to this, being really quiet. All the computers were shut off, and only the light was the only one lit.
I glanced to Boss' office door to see if she was there, she is. Burying her face to her monitor, I think she is busy on something, maybe negotiations, I don't really know.
I went to my cubicle and started booting my computer, from then on I started editing on my pictures and other stuff that was supposed to be my assignment for today. I'm going to repeat the same thing again, I sighed heavily. Started working on it, nothing's gonna take me down, I'm motivated, not even sleep is going to defeat me.
Few hours later.
I sighed gripping my monitor tightly while my face is buried down the desk. This is so boring, repeating to square one. Why? After my disappointment, I heard a door creaked open and someone went outside.
"Oh, you're here now," Boss greeted. "I thought you won't be coming back... and what are you doing, holding the monitor like that?"
I quickly sat upright and let go of the hold of the monitor, "Oh, Boss, I'm just working on my task, right now, you know first overtime work!" I said cheerily.
Boss sighed, "I can see you're pretty tired today, you may go home at this time and get some rest, you can go overtime on the other nights instead."
"No Boss, I'm pretty fine, see I'm working," I said while pretending to click and type and click.
"Stop lying, Mr. Anderson, go home if needed," she raised her voice. "I don't want a worker of mine to get headaches by tomorrow," Boss commanded.
I sighed, "Sorry, Boss, it's just that it's a pretty busy day today and I'm slightly stressed out."
"I understand, I'm getting stressed as well, the others, too," Boss said worriedly something I never imagined. "Good night, Mr. Anderson."
"Thank you, Boss, good night," I smiled weakly as I booted off the computer and fixed my things. Boss nodded back as we both left the office, and I started driving home again.
Once I was in my apartment, I stayed at the balcony to glance at the dark and cold night to relax and meditate. The night wind blows right into my face as I began reflecting on what my day have been. It felt so different, something that I've never been experienced before. I feel like this reality has taken a hard toll on me. I stared at the night sky, imagining what the future would be, I depended my whole life being a photographer at a young age living alone in my apartment. I let out a sigh and breathed mild and calm.
The balcony was silent, only a faint sound of vehicles passing through is what I only hear, and some dog barks, too. I began reminiscing my happy thoughts, when I was a child playing with the other kids outside, meeting new people as I grow up. Graduating from schools to finding my first job. I always picture myself being a happy man with a happy life, having friends, having good times, having fun... taking pictures. But, I always hoped for something, something that I never had of in my life.
A romantic relationship.
I've been living single for the whole 19 years of my life. I can see my former classmates dating each other, going on any places, giving gifts to each other, just holding hands and telling each other about everything in their life.
I held my hands together tightly, and began imagining the things we will do if I had a partner. We would tell jokes everyday, laugh at each others goofs, eat dinner together maybe sleep together. I'm lonely. Sure, I have friends and colleagues but there's still a massive hole that is missing in me, a certain someone that will hold my heart and teach me more about living my life.
I'm not a romantic man but hoped for one, to feel love and to be loved passionately, like the way I take photos. By simply taking a shot, you can always receive smiles, giggles, and wacky poses and can't help yourself but to be happy, too.
The breeze went colder as I looked at the dark cloudy sky with the big full moon on it. I shivered and sneezed once the night breeze gives its strongest breath. I decided to relax inside my room instead.
My room was silent, it's empty, dark, and lonely. Without my PC here, I felt more alone in here, nothing to entertain myself aside from the television right here. I turned on the TV, and sat on my three-person sofa, even though I only live alone and have no close friends to even stay here. I changed channels for quite some time until not one show caught my attention. Politics, corny comedy shows, cheesy romance shows, movies that I've seen too many times, I decided to turn off the television, but instead I started streaming my playlist on my phone and plugging its earphone on my ears. There's no more better way to free from my anxious thoughts than tuning up some mellow music and chill.
I glanced at my pitch black monitor and thought about her... again. Yes, about Monika. I immediately missed her face since this is the first time that I haven't seen her presence in my monitor for almost a month. It became a habit of mine to interact with her every night to feel motivated and inspired about myself and doing my work. She became the closest friend that I had ever talked to for quite a long time,even if she is just a virtual creation of another man like me.
The tune of my music became lively as it started letting go of its melodic lyrics.
Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together
As soon as I started hearing the first stanza of the song, I beamed the largest grin I made and laughed as how this song is trying to convince me to think more about Monika. Ever since she started talking to me, the real me, I felt her becoming close to my heart. Even I leave her be in my apartment, I can't forget her face when I'm away, whether at work, or going to sleep, she's everywhere running in my mind. To think that a girl, more specifically a virtual girl, would be in my reality, us holding each other is the ultimate desire that I wish to get. But is it even possible, for us to be happy together on this huge wall bordering us?
If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me, and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together
But what if, a chance of a lifetime happened, the unexpected, of you being in my reality. And such a lot of people think the same as me, maybe millions, who love you, and want to be with you. Just saying that you are mine among the others will make me burst with joy, and I'll never ask for more. But is it possible, for us to be happy together, as you probably have talked and bonded to millions of people?
I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
Me and you, and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
Even if there's a very tiny possibility, literally very small chance of us getting together. I always think about being with you, and spending my life with you. I know there are many factors that go against us, I know that I'll be the laughing stock of the world if I told everyone that I'm in love with a virtual or unreal character, but I know for myself and I have hoped to be true, that the only one for me is you, and you are mine, and everything that I've wished , the things you've wished, we will all do it together, happily together.
As soon as the song goes on and on, I put my hand on my cheek as I've noticed that it was wet. Am I really getting emotional about my fantasies, well this is weird. I rested my arms on the back of the sofa as I started staring the ceiling. The melodic tune is still playing and my eyes slowly close with a smile on my face. Slowly and gently falling asleep on my sofa.
Is this what falling in love means? If so, I like it, all my thoughts are about her, about just Monika. I want to be happy together forever with her. But...
What would it take just to find that special day?
Author's notes?
Hey reader! If you've managed to reach this point of the story, congratulations and a big thank you for reading! Thank you as well for giving me, a beginner a chance to share and keep working on this story I have on my mind for quite a long time. I was really uncomfortable on sharing this story that it might not be good because this is the first long literary work that I've ever made, and the fact that this is inspired by a sort of literature based game (and English is not my mother tongue). Thanks for the reviewers as you motivated me to keep working, my followers as well, and those who favorited as well, it's been an honor.
Please leave a review if you liked it, if not, leave one as well because I'm open for improvement.
Now few announcements, sorry if I haven't submitted this chapter on time, which I tried doing everyday. School just started again last Monday, and being a college student, daily chapters is impossible for me. So if I were to make a schedule, next chapters will be either 1 to 2 chapters per week, yeah I'll try it that way. Next chapter is in the works, don't worry, that was the chapter everybody is waiting for, and I'll definitely work and improve on my pacing, just as the one reviewer said. Hope I also introduced the OCs well, because they'll be everywhere to the story later on, and I hoped I gave Rex some character development and a motivation.
With that said, see you guys soon, and have a nice day or night, thank you!
P. S. Song is "Happy Together by The Turtles" (my inspiration for this story)