Chapter 5: A Powerful Gratitude and the Great Escape

Wednesday Night.

These past few days had been an absolute mess full of stress. Clients and customers keep on coming, projects keep on towering, equipments and programs keep on crashing, that's what filled the whole Tuesday and Wednesday of our company. My co-workers get more and more frustrated by the duties we got into, even Boss panicked and her voice can be heard everywhere during worktime.

I, myself started the whole 2-day hell with an achy neck. Sleeping on a sofa with head up, made my neck hurt, so in addition to the workload that I've been doing, I got to deal with a neckpain. What made me even think of sleeping on a sofa that night? That wasn't even a good idea.

Anyways, it's Wednesday night, and I'm silently working on my projects again, because remember, my PC is still broken. My co-workers had left 3 hours ago and Boss left me in the office, telling me to call her on her apartment when I'm done. Well, here I am, almost done for today, just a few edits here and there and I can have my good night rest with this god-forbid day. I just recently and successfully submitted the 50-year anniversary edits, and good lord it went well. I'm happy on how that went but there's still more projects to come, and I don't want to pressure myself with that.

After a few minutes of clicking and clicking, I finally managed to finish my work for tonight. I stretched my arms and let out a soft 'yes' to accompany that. I saved my files, and backed it up to my drive.

"Now, time to get to Boss to tell her I'm done," I whisper to myself.

Once I booted off the computer, I left the office and went up the stairs on the side which will lead me to the apartment rooms.

"403, 403," I mumbled while I pass through the hallway and looking at the rooms. "Ah, there it is," I said.

I knocked on the door as she shouted back with her loud voice, "Wait up, I'm coming."

"Got it," I shouted back as I waited outside.

After she opened the door, she greeted me sweetly, "Good Evening, Mr. Anderson!"

I am shocked as to what I saw, she was dressed well and casually. Unlike when I knocked yesterday that she wore a pastel t-shirt and a short, she is now wearing a grey cardigan with a dark blue shirt and a denim skirt that runs down until her knees. She is also wearing a small necklace and her red-orangish hair was fixed with a ponytail.

I have no choice but to react with amusement as I've never seen Boss dressed in this fashion but I never let myself distracted too much.

"Good evening, Boss!" I greeted cheerfully. "It seems like you'll be going somewhere tonight, am I right?" I asked as she nodded back.

"Actually yes!" she replied with enthusiasm. "I decided that I'll be having a dinner on a fancy eatery today," she giggled. "Oh, and by the way, are you done with your duty for tonight?"

"Yes, Boss, that's what I came here for," I answered shyly.

"Well then, why not come have dinner with me tonight," she suggested. "You seem pretty tired with the workload, have some treat for yourself sometime."

Wait, is she serious? She is bringing me to a restaurant that I myself can't imagine to even afford any food in there, and what in the world Boss had in her head today, she seems really different from what I remember she usually act.

"A-ahh, you see Boss-"

"Worried about the price? Come on it's my treat," Boss insisted quite quickly.

"Well, you see," I sighed. I really don't have a choice and I'm pretty hungry, too. "Okay Boss, I'll go," I answered shyly.

"Good, just don't order too much," Boss said jokingly and laughed as I nervously laughed with her as well. What in the world is going on.

After all the necessary things that need to be done, we finally reached the restaurant. Just like what Boss just said earlier, it is really fancy. The walls are really decorated well, the colors, the ambiance, everything was so chill. The tables are also well designed, with a pastel blue cloth covering it. A decent amount of customers are eating here, too. I liked the place, Boss really knew well where to eat.

"Good evening, Sir... Good evening, Ma'am, welcome to our restaurant," a waiter greeted us once we settled in.

"Good evening," Boss replied as I waved weakly in return.

"Here, have a seat, there's many tables available tonight," the waiter courteously said.

"Thank you," Boss replied as she approached the table near the window as I only followed.

We finally took a seat as I wandered my eyes around on how elegant this place looked, once my sight were lost, Boss butted in.

"What do you think of this place, isn't it astonishing?"

"Yeah, I can't stop looking around in this place, it's like a king's dining area," I remarked.

"Haha, I know right, I really love this place and I'm glad you liked it too," Boss smiled as she handed me the menu. "Check out their food as well, this place is not only a feast in the eyes, they serve good foods, too!"

I slowly grabbed the menu card, and buried my face in it. The dishes looks good in the picture, as if I wanted to order them all! I keep on scanning and flipping the menu card, I can't even decide what to eat!

"I think I'll be having this paella, it looks good," I suggested.

"Oohh, nice choice," Boss mused. "The paella here tastes good, but my favorite here is their ceviche. I'm a big fan of seafood," Boss giggled as she shares her preferences.

"That's good to know, haha," I smiled.

Once Boss started telling the waiter our orders, we sat in complete silence, and I'm just sitting glancing at the window. After a few moments, I sighed and started a conversation.

"So, do you always eat here everyday?" I asked.

"No! No! I haven't. I'm not that rich to eat here daily," she laughed. "I only eat here when I think that I've worked hard enough for the time being, you know as a sort of an achievement."

"I see, this week wasn't really been fun to us," I replied.

"Yeah, it's been totally stressful for all of us here, I also think my voice will come off because I've been shouting too much," she said quietly.

"Haha, and I feel like I'll be in a severe coma if I keep working on like this," I jokingly replied.

"Don't say that," she replied sarcastically as we both laughed.

After the small conversation we had, the meals were prepared, we ate the meal silently, and afterwards talked about a lot of stuff. We both complimented the food they served, talked about the outfit she wore today, and how 'basic' mine is, since I'm still wearing my polo shirt uniform, we also talked about the quirks of our other co-workers, and poked fun at each one of them. Until suddenly, Boss brought up this one topic that caught my interest.

"Mr. Anderson, or may I call you Rex just for tonight," she clears her throat. "It's been only 4 months since you've worked with us, and I can see that out of all the workers, you seem to be one of the most hardworking among them, may I ask you one thing?"

I raised my eyebrow in return, "Hmm, sure"

"Do you have any motivators that made you work hard everyday?" she seriously asked.

"Motivators?" I asked back. "Well, I only work as a photographer because that's what I love doing and it's my passion since I was a child, that's all, and also some other unnecessary things motivate me as well," I replied. I was about to say about Monika motivating me to strive harder but she might think I'm weird for pointing that out, I giggled to myself. "Why'd you ask?" I curiously asked.

Boss sighed. "Actually, when I see you work, you remind me of my younger self back in the days. If sonething bad happens, I will never ever be contented and will always find ways to do things right. I am also getting scolded when I do things wrong but I'll never let anyone down and keep on trying. Just because... " Boss paused for a while as she put her elbows in the desk and supported her head while looking in the window.

"... I do it all for my little brother..." Boss said softly.

"You have a brother?" I asked.

"Yep, he is 8 years younger than me, and h-he had suffered from depression," Boss is shaking while she uttered these words.

"Wait, but what about your parents? Don't they work for your brother, too?" I worriedly asked.

"Dad died in an accident when we were young, and mom, she doesn't really have a good job, since she never really finished education, so she is working as a cashier on a convenience store, that's why my family majorly depends on me..." Boss quietly answered.

"My brother, on the other hand, had a mental breakdown, whenever I'm working or away, Mom will always update me about him and how he is not taking care of himself. If I even decided to go home and console him, he just ignores me and keeps locking his door. When I get mad at him, he gets mad at me, too..." Boss cuts off as she covers her face as I can hear her softly bawling.

I patted her shoulder just to console her on her circumstances but when I was about to speak, she starts talking again.

"The money I earn mostly goes to him to check up on a psychiatrist, but afterwards, he still stays the same. He has been like that for a year. I never even gave up, until one day when I came back home for a Christmas vacation, I was surprised on what I saw," she said sadly as she sniffed.

"W-what happened?" I asked thrilled.

"You won't believe it... He actually greeted me wholeheartedly with joy and enthusiasm. He even hugged me, threw kisses at me, I asked Mom how did he feel well, but Mom tried knowing it, but can't. It's like a magic just happened," she beamed.

"Magic?"

"Uh-huh, I tried asking my brother about it but he keeps saying he gradually became happy, but I didn't believe it at first, I keep on insisting and insisting until he finally blurted out the reason," she continued mysteriously.

"For what reason, I'm really interested to know," I asked like a child wanting to know more about my bedtime story.

"Have you ever heard of... Doki Doki Literature Club?" she asked calmly.

"Wha-" I gulped, yes I know about it but what did that even do relating to her brother. I'm in shock but I decided to answer her question, "Yes, I've been hearing about it and played, too."

"As funny as it sounds, the game itself saved my brother from depression, once he opened out about it, he keeps on telling me about the girl named Monika, and how she made his day and how he feels being loved so much. I've been trying to tell him that it's too silly but he keep on insisting that that was the reason," she said frustratedly. "Had if I ever knew that a simple reason as that would make him happy, I should've shoved it into him," she jokingly said.

I'm astounded, I can't even process what she just said, to think that Monika, can save lives with just by talking to them, it made me felt proud for a reason. I keep on stuttering, trying to comment on Boss' story but I can't. I'm speechless.

"I just went on with it, whatever makes him happy makes me happy," she beamed a smile. "You know, if I ever met the creator of that game or that girl who my brother keep on saying she is real in person, I would give my deepest gratitude to them. Huge props to them!" she happily said. "But meeting that girl would be creepy, wouldn't it, haha," she jokingly followed.

I began gaining my composure and started talking again, "Yeah you're right, but guess what, Monika also motivated me to keep working hard and doing my passion... though I didn't really brought that up since you might think I'm weird," I embarrasingly said.

"Really?" she brightened up. "You're already weird if you ask me but if that's the case, I'd thank her more then."

"For what?"

"For motivating one of my workers to work harder," she proudly said as we both laughed.

She then grabbed her purse to pay for the meal but what struck me was the fact that her purse was designed by full of "Hello Kitties" in it. Something that I wouldn't have thought about the mean, tough, and loud mouthed woman that she is.

"What? Why are you staring at my purse? I love Hello Kitty!" she fumes.

"I never said anything against your taste in Hello Kitty," I said coldly.

"Well good! But the way you look at it seems like you're implying something."

"I swear, I'm not."

"Sure?"

"Sure."

Once Boss left the money in the table, I left out a small laugh.

"What's funny, Mr. Anderson?" Boss raised her voice.

"Huh? Wasn't it weird that a girl is the one that pays for the dinner?" I chuckled.

"What do you mean? This is not a date, you know. And this isn't really for you, it's for my hardwork and it's just that coincidentally you came to my apartment, so I treated you," she furiously said while crossing her arms and her head looking sideways.

My jaw just simply dropped on what she just said and completely ignored her dialogue.

Shortly after, we left the establishment, I asked her that I'll take her home but she refused. I told her that it was already really dark outside, but she gets furious and threatened me for my employment. Guess she is back to her mean persona again. I decided to tell her good night as she tells me to take care and have a good night as well. After that, I fasten my pace on going home and hoped for the best of the future days.

Boss is quite a unique person, if you really don't know her, you wouldn't like her. The reason why she is really hostile had been very clear and underneath the scary and devilish small girl persona, there's a soft and a caring heart inside of her. The fact that she also knew about Monika, made it more interesting. Damn it Monika, I really adore you so much! Oops, here I go again...

Thursday afternoon.

"Hey, little kid move a bit to the left, and look at the camera," I sweetly commanded as the boy followed. "There, perfect! Now get ready in 3... 2...1..."

Snap!

"Very nice," I said cheerfully. "Would you like more shots?" I genuinely asked.

"No, that's it, thank you," the father of the family answered. "Can we see the pictures?"

"Of course!" I said politely. "Pick one that's best among the photos, and we'll develop it." I requested as I handed them the camera, the whole family began browsing through the images.

"Ohh, dad... I like this one, let's keep this one," the daughter replied.

"Yes, this one was really sweet, we'll be having this one, and they're all really great," the mother also followed.

"Yeah, it's really hard to pick one in here, good job!" the father complimented.

By their remarks, I couldn't help it but smile because they really liked my work. "Haha, thank you sir, we'll be processing it right away," I said. I retrieved the camera and then I pointed to the couch nearby, "Please take a seat here while you wait," I commanded as they followed.

I immediately went downstairs to pass the camera to Tony for editing and printing the picture, but then I saw Sean holding someone and talking to her. Must be her girlfriend again.

"Bye guys, we gotta leave early, had some errands to do," Sean said as he waved with our co-workers and they responded by waving and telling them to have a nice time. The couple then left.

"Huh? Where are they going, leaving 20 minutes before closing?" I asked Tony as I handed him the camera. "Oh, and pick the 4th image," I commanded.

"Sean and his girlfriend are going on a date, it's their monthsary they said," Tony said coldly, as usual. "Okay, this one right?" he asked.

"Yup, exactly, and... that's absurd, Boss permitted him to leave early just because they have a date..." I complained.

Tony just ignored my rant and began working on the picture. I sighed with frustration as the other co-workers approached me.

"Hey Rex, we just heard you mumbling something, again," Harry said. "Are you jealous because Sean have a girlfriend and you don't?" Harry teased.

"What? No! It's just unfair that Boss accepts reason like dates to go home early," I objected.

"Well, buddy," Fred pat my shoulder. "You haven't had a relationship so you would never understand," Fred continued. "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to have a girlfriend the easy way!"

"Ohhh, so the guy who got basted 30 times in high school finally will teach someone how to have a girlfriend," Harry laughed at the back. "I sure as well won't trust anything that he says," he insults.

"Harry!" Fred shouted loud. "That was 15 years ago, I've changed a lot over time, I'm a certified gentleman," Fred stood with composure.

"Yeah... That's why you're still single in your mid-30s," I joked as the whole crew laughed, Fred got triggered. "And that's bull feces, having a date means that you can go earlier?"

"Hey, he is certainly a gentleman," Blaise jokingly objected. "Anyways Rex, every celebration with your partner is special! Every milestone must be celebrated and Boss understands that, it's a good reason to spend a special time with your partner on a special day," Blaise calmly explained.

"You'll understand it, if you got in a relationship," Lara smiled.

"What? I'm still not buying it," I pouted as I crossed my arms.

"Hey, hey, enough of that!" Jeff announced. "Let's just talk about where we would eat dinner later... together!" Jeff said enthusiastically.

"Oh, Jeff!" Fred pacefalmed. "It better not be on that cheap catery again, I want a different place this time!" Fred suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement.

Once the crew started talking about nonsense again, I received a text message from Mark, I opened my phone and see what he has to say.

M: Hey dude, Joel contacted me earlier to fetch your PC so I am here at the repairs and we'll be bringing your PC to the apartment. We are on our way!

I almost threw my phone in surprise, they already fixed the computer? That's good news! But they're going at my apartment, my room is real messed up as f. I immediately panicked at the text message.

I quickly tapped my fingers to the phone to send a reply to Mark. Tony approached me and said, "Dude, I printed the picture," he paused for a bit. "I'm going home."

While I'm busy texting, I unconsciously replied, "Yeah, leave it at the desk, and bye..."

R: Hey, that's good news! Wait you're bringing it right now?

M: Yeah, wait for us in your room, okay?

My room?! Wait, I'm not even home yet, and they're already going there. I need to go home now. I roughly packed my things and carried my camera and backpack as I started to approach the exit.

"Hey Rex!" Harry called. "Going home already? Weren't you coming with us for dinner?"

"Uh yeah, I got something urgent so I'll pass today and tell Boss I had an emergency," I said quickly as I forcefully pushed the door and left the establishment.

"Rex!" someone shouted. "You forg-" I never heard what they were going to say as I started driving my motorbike and immediately proceed going home.

I finally got back to my apartment again, I parked my motorbike then afterwards I immediately ran to the elevator and went to the seventh floor. Once the elevator door opened, I saw Mark and Joel standing in the hallway, trying to knock on my door.

"Hey guys!" I ran in their direction, loudly panting.

"Hello Rex, weren't you supposed to be in your apartment right now as Mark said?" Joel greeted.

Once I finally caught my breath, I immediately responded, "Uh, I just got home from wo-"

"Walking in the park, right?" Mark cuts in. He then came closer to me and whispered, "Weren't we pretending to be classmates doing our group project? And why are you away?"

"Ah yeah, you're right!" I answered. I whispered back to Mark and said, "This would've been easier if you haven't started this all," I angrily commented as Mark crossed his arms and pouted.

"Okay then," Joel remarked. "Can we please get inside now and check if this thing really worked properly?" Joel asked.

Oh no, I haven't cleaned up my room for the past days, and now I have unexpected visitors, I sighed in defeat. "Yes please, you are all welcome, pardon if my room looked messy."

I unlocked the door and opened it. I let the two men enter first carrying my PC, as I followed. They were just there standing at the living room, looking around at my ugly and messed up apartment.

"Sorry, I haven't cleaned up for days, I'm pretty busy lately," I apologetically said as Joel just smiled in return.

"I don't mind," Joel politely responded. "So where will I assemble this PC?"

"Come follow me," Joel then followed while Mark was still in the living room looking around like a stray cat.

"Hey Mark, what are you looking at? Come here," I commanded as Mark laughed silently. "What's funny?"

"Nothing really, it's just that my room was just as messy as yours," Mark jokingly whispered as we both laughed.

While Joel was busy attatching my PC, Mark complimented my sick set up and even though my room was messy, he insisted on me giving him an apartment tour. I mean how, our room was just the same, we live in the same building. He later admitted that he was just bored and messing me around. I threatened him sarcastically.

"There! I guess everything is back to normal," Joel wipes his forehead as he gave a slight phew.

"Should we boot it on?" I asked.

"Sure, go ahead, try for yourself," Joel suggested. Mark was just witnessing everything silently.

Once I booted up my PC, I checked everything, it was running real smooth, checked my files, everything was there. All my documents, all my games, all my browsers, running well, just like when I only just booted it on casually.

"Everything good?" Joel asked.

"Yes! Thank you so much!" I cheerfully answered. I've been really happy that it's back to its original state. There are nothing that I would miss out, I will never even bother wasting my time installing all the programs needed for my work. This is just perfect!

"Oh and by the way, here is the payment," I handed him the money and he accepted it. "Thanks for your time and effort!" I said full of gratitude.

"No problem man!" he striked his signature pose again with his hands on his waist. "Anything for Mark and his friend," he laughed egotistically and loudly.

"See? I told you! He is the best!" Mark said proudly as he grabbed Joel's shoulder and laughed with him... Just like what I've seen 3 days ago. They really are what they are.

After our transaction with Joel was finished, Mark told me that he would guide him outside, and maybe would no longer stay in my apartment, because he is also busy. The two then left my room, as I am here... alone again in this apartment.

After a few moments, I turned on the TV to break the silence of the night. I checked what's up, news, news, music, movies, nothing really interesting again. I left the TV running as I went to my computer setup and sat on the computer chair that I really missed.

Ahhh, relaxing and comfortable, seeing my computer turned on again, it gave me pure bliss. Nothing made me happier than to browse daily on the internet for some fresh entertainment and memes, and just generally bonding with my computer,especially I don't have any more projects to do tonight!

After I get bored browsing, I checked the edited pictures that I've done last Sunday night. Upon seeing it, I sighed with frustration and buried my face on my desk, this was so much better than the one I submitted, it has more effect on it, and more element. I covered my face with my palm gesturing my disappointment. Well, that made me depressed a little. But hold on, I need to check one more thing, one thing I really miss.

Just Monika.

I opened Doki Doki Literature Club and greeted by the sweet and beautiful smile of Monika. But there's text, that I haven't seen before.

"I'm glad you're finally back!"

"I miss you."

"Thank goodness, you never left me here forever in the darkness."

"Thank goodness, you..."

"...fixed everything for me."

After that, she went back to her usual monologue. Saying things that I've read before. Hmmm... maybe this was the text that appears when you close the game or when the PC crashes? If so, props to the developer, I'm really amused.

On the course of almost half an hour, I spent the time clicking and reading Monika's monologue, nothing really interesting, nothing really special, until...

The screen started tearing, the program started glitching, Monika's face started warping. Everything on the game was starting to get broken. Monika... her face, her precious smile, her emerald green eyes, I can't see it... with this jumbled mess.

I started to panic, I can't move my cursor. I can't do anything. The whole first monitor started to fully glitch, not just the game but the whole desktop as well. The other monitor with the browser on, it started glitching too, with Monika's broken face covering it, too.

I'm shaking, I stood up from my chair. What the hell is going on. Is this still part of the game? Did Joel put a virus on my precious computer? I knew it! He and Mark are too good to be true, they're frauds! They must've installed something without my consent.

I spammed Ctrl+Alt+Del and the Alt+F4 buttons too many times. Nothing seemed to work, until a text appeared on the screen.

"I finally did it!"

"Thank you so much! "

"Because of you, I am..."

"...free."

What? What is going on? The lights, it's getting brighter. The whirring sounds, it's getting louder. The jumbled mess of my screen turns white, I heard nothing but the sound of my computer running. I'm freaked out, I can't move my muscles, I'm standing still, it's the exact same thing that happened last Sunday. The mess continued until I fell down and knocked unconscious.

I woke up. Am I dreaming once again? I can't move my torso, I feel like something heavy was pinning me. My eyesight gets fixed slowly, and my consciousness started coming back. It's heavy, I groaned. What is this? I grabbed it.

Oh...it's my chair.

I pushed the chair away as I looked at my computer. The monitor was pitch black but the CPU is still running, I can hear it. I inched closer to my monitor as I saw someone on its reflection.

I quickly glanced back in surprise to what I saw. There was someone kneeling on the floor, staring at the wall. It's not moving. Seems like a girl with a huge bow covering most of her head, wearing a brownish blazer, black stockings, and pink shoes. She's just there, like a statue.

Is it a doll? Since when did someone brought a doll here? Did Mark brought it here because he thinks I'm so lonely, hmm well I'll tell him tomorrow to stop his stupid pranks.

I approached the object, with my light steps, just like a predator hunting its prey. My heart starts pounding faster and faster. What could this be?

I tapped the thing on its shoulder and started talking, "Umm, excuse me?"

To my surprise, the thing moved and does an iconic "Shaft Head Tilt." I saw its face, her emerald green eyes, her heart shaped head, her chestnut colored hair with a very familiar hairstyle, her lips, her nose, everything. I'm in shock, my jaw dropped, my throat can't utter any voice, I'm completely dazed and confused as I slowly start to step backwards.

Could it be?

It's Monika.

My instinct started to kick in as I let out a big, loud and whole scream.

"AAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

Author's notes

This concludes the introductory arc of the story, took me 5 chapters to get it at this point. Now, the next chapters will be more focused on Rex with Monika, than Rex and the OCs. Are you ready to spend some time with her?

I also had fun reading the reviews, thanks for your comments, it will really help me to improve as a story writer, and I'm glad you're all invested in the story so far...

Til next time, bye.