Chapter 7: My Personal Albums
"That's all for today guys, enjoy and have a nice weekend!" Boss announced after giving us all our wages placed in an envelope.
"Goodbye Boss, goodbye everyone!" Jeff said. He carried his bag and left the establishment.
The others started to leave one by one along with me. Lara walked with me while I am on my way to my motorbike at the parking area.
"Rex, may I ask you about things?" Lara asked politely.
"Sure, no problem," I responded as we both continued walking.
Lara nodded as he began to speak, "I'm just wondering, you act really different today and it somehow bothers me."
I raised my eyebrow in curiousness, "Really? How does that bother you?" I asked. "I'm just really hyperactive, I guess."
"Hyperactive, I see," Lara replied with her eyes closed and let out a faint sigh. "But be honest with me Rex, are you really in love?" Lara asked with a big grin on her face.
I smirked at her question, as I threw it all off, "Psshhh, in love? You make me laugh, I don't need relationships right now," I answered.
"You're lying, I can see it in your face," Lara cooed. Lara inched closer at me, gaining tension as I began to sweat. "So who is this lucky girl Rex? Is she Vaness? Is she a girl I never knew before?" Lara continued asking. She is really intimidating me at this point.
"Fine," I said as I sighed in defeat. "You got me, I sorta am, how do you really know that from the get-go?" I said.
"It's really obvious," Lara giggled. "Come on, who is she? Who could make our little young bean be happy and be lovey-dovey?" Lara adorably asked while she started pinching my cheek like a crab.
"Hey, get it off," I replied as I shoved her hand away from my face. I started to blush, "Well, it's just a secret for now," I responded while looking sideways.
"Don't be so mysterious Rex," Lara squealed.
"And don't be so nosy, Lara," I responded as I grabbed my helmet and wore it. I then hopped on my bike as I started the engine. "Would you like a ride?" I asked Lara generously.
Lara crossed her hands in response with a pout on her face. "Hmph, no thanks, I'm pissed off," she said with a sour tone.
I frowned at her response but I replied to her statement anyways, "Well, goodbye Lara, enjoy your weekend," I said timidly.
Lara lightened up and giggled, "Do I have you worried? I'm just kidding, I'm not mad or anything," Lara commented as I looked at her with dull eyes. "Have a safe trip, and enjoy your weekend, Rex!" Lara cheered.
I nodded with a smile on my face. I accelerated my motorbike as I fastened my pace going home. I'm excited to see Monika once again.
I don't really mean to hide anything from Lara or any of my friends, it is just that... everything about Monika is really odd. I can't just tell them her real name, her status, and everything. As proud as I am with her, I'm not ready for it to be known publicly. I think this issue should be addressed to Monika. This is just too unexpected.
Ahhh, back home again, it's 5:16 in the afternoon and I got home pretty late than I used to. I entered the building as I traveled all the way to my room.
I can't wait to see Monika again! How is she? Was she bored because I only left her alone in my room? Was she browsing the internet using my phone? Or was she sleeping all day long? I really need to see and how she's doing right now.
I reached the 7th floor as I drifted to my room. I knocked on the door to let her know that I'm here and to be courteous, of course.
"Ah, come in!" I heard Monika's faint voice as I started opening the door. I just realized how weird to knock at your personal apartment room. Nonetheless, I entered the room.
"I'm home, Monika!" I cheerfully announced. Upon having my first sight of my apartment room, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened.
The apartment was squeaky clean! The floor was shiny white, the ceiling is clear and free of cobwebs, the furnitures are well arranged, and all the dust and trashes are gone. It feels like I'm living on a new house, the books are arranged, and the decorations are presented well. My posters were fixed, the curtains have changed, the windows are clear like mirrors!
I'm astonished, all this time while I was away, Monika was cleaning, and making my room look beautiful! My eyes are lost on the new furnished room, just like what happened when I was on that restaurant that I had dinner with Boss.
I checked my bedroom, my kitchen, my living room, my dining area, everywhere! It is well furnished. But where is Monika?
"Hey Monika hey! Where are you?" I shouted accross the room, trying to find her.
"I'm on the bathroom," her sweet voice echoed.
"Wow Monika, you really put too much effort in cleaning my room, I love it!" I complimented.
"I'm glad you like it, I don't want your room to be messy all the time," Monika replied from afar. "After all, we are living together now, aren't we?"
"Haha, I guess you're right, this is technically your room, too," I blushed on my thoughts, "Anyways, are you cleaning the bathroom? You can come out now and take some rest, I want to see you as well," I sweetly said as I approached the bathroom.
Monika gets out of the bathroom, and to my surprise, she wears something different from her school uniform. She's wearing a large white t-shirt with its corner tied into a knot partnered with a sports shorts and a handkerchief wrapped around her forehead. Her body is full of sweat as well.
"Ahaha, surprised to my outfit?" Monika asked. "I just picked some of your clothes from your drawer and this is what I got," Monika informed.
I stared in awe, she looks more cute in men's outfit! "Ah, Monika, you look really good in that outfit!" I commented, Monika blushed.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not wonderfully dressed as I am really messed up all over my body," Monika embarrassingly said.
"Don't worry about that," I chuckled. "You can wear any clothes that I have as of now, we'll buy you new clothes during the weekend!"
"Really? I'm so excited! I love shopping, especially when I'm gonna be with you," Monika beamed as she started hugging me with her sweaty and smelly body.
"A-ah Monika, I think you should change your clothes first right now," I shyly remarked. "...and maybe take a shower."
"Oops, sorry," Monika embarassingly responded as she immediately ran to my bedroom and grabbed new clothes and a towel.
It's in the middle of the night, and Monika and I are sitting on my bed watching a movie. Monika is hugging a pillow while I just rested my hands at the back of my head.
Monika is now wearing a blue shirt large enough for her size, and a pjama. While I'm just wearing a plain t shirt and shorts.
While the film credits is rolling, Monika started to comment.
"Arrival is such an interesting film, isn't it?" Monika stated. "What ought to be a simple concept can be so complex, deep and really interesting!"
"I agree, the structure of the film is really well-made but complicated, I might try to watch it the second time to fully appreciate it," I answered and Monika simply looked at me and smiled.
"You know, it still amazes me on how you carried this wide TV from my living room to my bedroom, for your size, you must be really strong!" I remarked.
"Ahaha, does that surprise you~" Monika lets out a small giggle. "I'm an athlete at my school, and I like to play lots of sports!"
"Really? Now I remember, you were out of everyone's league when it comes to your school, you're smart, attractive, popular, and athletic," I remarked.
Monika giggled. "I remember the game saying that, I am touched, ahaha," Monika said.
"So what sports do you play?" I asked.
"Well..." Monika paused as she placed her fingers on her chin. "I play volleyball, badminton, tennis, table tennis, track and field, and umm some other more," Monika answered.
"Wow! You really are athletic, I only play basketball and tennis," I said.
"Then we can play tennis sometime," Monika said. "I'll never go easy on you!"
"You bet! I won't go easy either," I remarked. Monika and I started laughing together.
I turned off the television once the credits finished rolling. Silence prevailed afterwards, but Monika decides to break it.
"Hey Rex, mind if I grab something here just a moment?" Monika requested.
"Umm, sure, do anything you want," I answered. Monika left my bed and went to the shelf to find something. Once she found it, she grabbed 3 books, pink, green, and blue, and placed them on the bed for me to see when she came back.
"Let's talk about your photo albums!" Monika suggested. I beamed a smile. "You said you are a photographer, right? I want to see the pictures of your life!" Monika continued.
"Aww, sure no problem," I approved. "Where should we start?"
"Hmm," Monika stared and pointed at each of the books. "I choose the green one first!" Monika said cheerfully.
"Okay!" I enthusiastically answered as I proudly opened my album. Pictures of different things were flashed. There are pictures of flowers, a group of merry people, the scenery of the towns, beaches, mountains contained in these pictures. Monika continued to scan and observe at the pictures with a smile on her face.
"These are some really good shots!" Monika complimented. "You're really an outstanding photographer!"
I blushed on her remarks as I awkwardly scratched my head trying not to be too boastful. "Thank you, ehehe," I humbly said. "I'm really happy you like them, when I see a beautiful image of everything around me, I will always fetch my camera to grab that moment!" I informed.
"That's good to know you have a passion in photography," Monika said happily. "You remind me of myself and my club members, everytime a thought or a moment passes by on our heads, we won't hesitate to grab our pens and write poems about it."
"This is just how I express myself," we said in unison. We stared at each other, blushed and laughed it off.
"For some reason, we think alike, right?" Monika asked.
"Yeah, we really are meant to be, huh?" I answered. Monika blushed once again and giggled at my comment.
"You know text and images relate well to each other," Monika spoke in an informing tone. "They both affect the viewer's emotions and has the power to take them to different places depending on their imagination. They're basically the same but attack the audience in a different way. For example, some people prefer to see images than text alone, they can easily interpret and imagine the point it states because the visuals provide it, but some people prefer texts, because they want to imagine and interpret the point and the statement in their own creative minds. With the help of modern technology, more and more people are invested in seeing visuals rather than texts because they want to interpret easier, but I will always prefer texts because I want to create my own world and let my imagination run wild. I'm sure people that are currently reading right now prefers texts, too! " Monika finished her statement.
Wow, I was amazed, seeing and hearing Monika like this felt so refreshing. She's nothing different from how she portrays herself in the game. I'm astonished, this is the real Monika, the Monika I've been talking too for almost a month.
"Did I talk too much, ahaha," Monika continued. "That's just what I thought, I just want to share it with you!"
"No, it's fine! I am not used to hearing you talk like that in real life!" I answered. "But, I agree at everything you said! I mean photography is literature, right?" I asked naively.
Monika stared and thought about it for a moment, "I guess you're right, in a way! They say, a picture is worth a thousand words! If I have the time, I could write poems about your pictures, ahaha!"
"That sounds really nice, I'm invested in what you will really make out of it," I answered enthusiastically. Monika nodded while smiling.
"Let's move on to the next album," Monika suggested. "I choose the pink one," Monika said while holding the album.
"Sure! Let's see what's up!" I responded positively.
Unlike the green album, the pink one has pictures of me, and other people rather than the scenery. It's pictures of me when I am an elementary student with a bunch of kids, class pictures, pictures of hangouts with friends, and at the very end, my pictures with the SmartShot Crew.
"This album is really lively! I'm glad you knew these happy people in your life," Monika commented while looking at the pictures back and forth. "The pictures are well-taken,too," she complimented.
I smiled and laughed at her remarks and at the pictures as well, "Thanks Monika! Seeing these pictures once again for the long time makes me really miss these wonderful people," I remarked.
I pointed at the SmartShot crew pictures and spoke, "These are my co-workers currently, we call ourselves, the SmartShot Crew," I informed.
"They look wonderful!" Monika commented. "Will you introduce me to them?"
"Uhh..." I paused for a bit. "Sure, I guess it's fine!" I answered positively.
"Yay!" Monika cheered. "I always want to meet the people around you and tell them that I am your girlfriend," Monika said sweetly. "Wouldn't that be exciting?" she added.
"Of course!" I said as I let out a fake laugh. To be honest, I'm not really sure about this, assuming that maybe some of my co-workers play Doki Doki Literature Club. What if they found out that Monika made her way to our reality. Will they spread it to the internet? Would they tell it to their friends? I don't really know and I'm not prepared. For now, I want her all by myself.
"Let's talk about the other pictures of you!" Monika requested. "Tell me about your high school days, your class picture here sure is rowdy!"
I beamed a smile once again, "Ah, those guys! My high school days were really fun, we go out a lot, just hanging out and chillin', and my school friends were the best when it comes to having fun!" I sighed and reminisced. "You know, I never talked or chatted with them for a long time now, and I always hoped for a reunion to come... Just to know how everybody is doing today," I calmly said.
Monika lets out a comforting smile, "Don't worry, I don't think they forgot about each other, who knows! Maybe one day, one of them will chat with you and ask for a meet-up once again!" Monika consoled.
"Thank you Monika, you always make me feel lighter about myself!" I said wholeheartedly.
"Anything for you, my dear~" she said sweetly as she began giving a serious face once again while looking at the pictures. "Rex, who is this young girl with the young you?" she asked seriously. "You have so many pictures with her..."
"Oh, that!" I let out the biggest smile in my face. "Ah, she is someone that I will never ever forget," I calmly said as I noticed Monika staring at me poker faced.
"She is my childhood friend, Clarice," I answered her question. "Back in the days, we will only go to each other's house, play games, do role play, maybe even study, or watch kids shows!" I added. "She is my only best friend when I was a grade schooler and we will always enjoy being together as kids."
I formed a frown in my face, "Until suddenly..." Monika continued looking at me seriously but I paused to look at her face. "Wait a second Monika, are you getting jealous?" I teased.
Monika snapped and gulped as her face started to get really red. "Well, you see Rex..." Monika looked at the side worrily with a sweatdrop on her face. "Wasn't she simply your first love or something? Honestly, I would be a bit jealous..."
"You are my first love, Monika," I said direct and straightforward. Monika started shaking and gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. I blushed upon realization, but things needed to be done, right? I patted her head and placed it on my shoulder, so she can lean on it. "Clarice was just my best childhood friend, don't worry about it," I consoled.
"Rex, don't make me feel this way, you make my heart race wild, I might get a heart attack " Monika jokingly said. We both laughed. "Anyways, I think my expression cut you off on your story, let me hear more about her," Monika requested.
"Ah yes, uhm," I collected my thoughts a bit before I continued. "So unfortunately, when we were both 13, Clarice's family decided to relocate on a different town, and that's how we sadly part ways..." I paused and noticed Monika getting a bit sad on my story.
"But the reason why I can't forget her, is the fact that she always compliment my picture taking skills and inspired to me to be a photographer so here I am now, currently doing what I'm good at and on what I love!" I continued with a lighten up expression.
"That's really good to hear, Rex!" Monika energetically said. "I wish I could meet her and thank her for making my sweetheart feel inspired and givng him a goal to achieve," she added.
"You know, I really wish I could meet her too, after all these years, but that won't be sooner, I hope," I remarked.
"Now we are done with this album," Monika said as she threw the album away. "Let's get it on with the last album! The blue one!" she cheerfully requested as she opened the last album only to be greeted with my baby picture exposing my butt.
I gulped in embarassment, I don't think I need to show her this pictures. I covered my face as a sign of cringe.
Monika laughed nevertheless. "This is so cuuuute, baby Rex pictures being carried by Rex's mom!" She kept squealing while flipping the pages, I don't really understand how she find these adorable.
She looked at the pictures starting with me as a baby getting carried by mom and dad, my first ever birthday with them and with an icing of the cake all over my face. Monika enjoyed it as she kept flipping the pages until a certain pattern caught her attention.
"Is it just me, or once you grew older and older, I never noticed your dad being on the pictures?" Monika pointed out. "What happened to your family?"
I stared blank for a bit processing everything that's going on in my mind. She finally hit my core, my personal life and my being. But since we are talking about my family album this time, there's no point to avoid sharing stuff with her.
"Uhm, Rex?" Monika called. "Ahaha, it's okay if you don't want to tell..."
"No, remember when I told you that I will be open to you anytime?" I asked as Monika only nodded slightly in agreement. I let out a sigh.
"You see, I never really grew up in a healthy family," I started to tell. "Everytime when I was young, rising voices of my parents arguing is what I only hear. I am used to this back then, and I never even bothered stopping them because I think I'm powerless and I'm a naive child."
"Dad finally gone mad, he decided to leave the two of us alone, and filed a divorce. The aftermath of Dad leaving never really made anything better for the two of us. We battled financial crisis to the point that my mom would let me drop school at a very young age. That is until Mom found a wealthy widower and decided to live with him. As for me though, I lived away from her and her new life but instead I was under custody of my aunt," I said as I began sniffing and sobbing.
I flipped the pages until I reached the pictures of myself with my aunt and her kids.
"Mom with the help of my stepdad's wealth gave me funds for me to go to school, and to pay for my aunt to take care of me. I was really pissed off by the fact that she decided to leave me alone and enjoy her wealthy life by herself," I started clenching my fists. "That's... that's why, I decided to stop talking to her even though she gives me money and I considered my aunt as my real parent and family... " I continued sulking and let out a cry.
"Rex..." Monika consoled.
"You know what's worse? When I talked to her about me taking Multimedia Arts in college, she refused!" I shouted angrily as I punched my bed a lot of times. "She said that if I don't took up law, or nursing, or engineering and continued with my 'silly' dream of mine as a photographer, she will not support me..."
"I accepted her consequences, and I went out to get a job to support myself for college, and never once in my life I regret it!" I firmly said. "I would never consider her as my family that's what I took a step ahead and let me do what I want."
I looked at Monika crying with me with extreme worry on her face. I never seen her like this, so lonely, so caring, she is just so sweet. She hugged me tightly, this one is different from before, this is not a hug of excitement or happiness... this is a hug of...
Care.
"Rex, I feel really sad about you," Monika consoled. "Now I understand you feeling alone, I could give you all the hugs I need just to make you feel better... If you feel bad, just hit me up, I'll always be there with you," Monika cried as she buries her face on my shoulder.
"No need of that Monika, I'm very happy right now, I feel like my past doesn't matter anymore..." I remarked with teary eyes.
"Are you sure?" Monika asked for confirmation.
"Yes, yes I am!" I responded.
We sat like that for a long time, letting our tears and thoughts go away and meditate for a bit.
I lighten up my mood once again, as I stood up from my bed and started grabbing something from my shelf.
"Rex, what are you doing?" Monika asked.
"Ah, here it is," I said while I grabbed a red photo album. I placed them in the bed for Monika to see.
"So there is more?" Monika excitingly asked. "Let's see what's inside!"
After Monika opened the album, her excited face went down to disappointment real quick.
"There's nothing in here, Rex!" Monika said. "Don't be ridiculous, especially at this time," Monika pouted.
I placed a finger on Monika's lips to hush her. "A-a-ah! You see, this album is not for us to look for pictures... It's for us to fill pictures of ourselves in here!"
Monika looked in surprise as she quickly turned down my offer. "B-but Rex! I'm camera shy!" she said in embarassment.
"So you mean, you don't want pictures of us?" I sadly asked.
"No! NO!" Monika answered quickly. "Actually, that's a really fun idea!"
"Of course! I'll bring you everywhere, I'll let you know more of my reality, I'll let you experience the way everybody enjoys this world! Monika, this is now your reality, too!" I expressly said.
Monika started shedding another tear, "Rex, I'm really glad, glad to have you and be with you. Please picture me with you!" Monika emotionally stated.
I let out a huge smile as a sign of approval. Monika lets out a sweet smile, too. Monika started to yawn, afterwards.
"It's really been a long day, huh?" Monika stated. "Let's get some sleep!" she added as she stretches her arms.
"It really is," I yawned as well. We started bringing back the albums to our shelf, and afterwards turned off the lights and went on to bed... quite awkwardly.
With the odd experience, we lied down back to back of each other. My thoughts wandered about how I shared my past and my experiences with her, it felt relieving. I never thought it would feel good to let out your anger, your joy, your loneliness to the ones you love. Monika is a special type of a company to me, she is really wise, and caring, and understanding. If something happens to me, I would not hesitate to tell her about it. After all, she'll always be there supporting anytime anyday.
While I'm deep on my thoughts, I felt Monika nudging me.
"Rex, I'm tired... But I can't sleep," Monika stated like a baby. I started turning to face her and hugged her.
"If you want a hug, you could just ask for it!" I calmly said. I noticed Monika's eyes widened and felt that her heartbeat went faster. "Does it feel better?"
"Y-yes... it's cozy, it's definitely better," Monika answered timidly. "Good night!" she whispered. She returned the hug.
"Good night," I whispered back.