Chapter 11: The Internet Celebrity
February 8, Wednesday
Another late afternoon in the office. As weird as it is, nothing can be heard except the loud clacking of the keyboards that echoed throughout the area. I looked around to notice that all of my co-workers are focused in front of their screen. Some might be editing pictures, some planning to finish their assigned tasks for the day, and maybe a few doing nonsense browsing the internet.
It's painfully boring. How come the day would end in such a boring atmosphere. I sighed loudly enough to be heard by everyone in the room. I quickly covered my mouth with my hands as I wandered my eyes around wondering if they had noticed me sighing. My co-workers just responded with a chuckle.
"My my, never have I ever seen all of us this quiet before," Lara started speaking.
"Should we really all be that busy today?" Jeff asked in his usual cheery tone.
"Well honestly, I'm not doing anything much at the moment," Harry responded.
"Huh, really? Same here, I guess we are all just waiting for the closing time," Fred said with a chortle.
"Seriously." Blaise shook his head sideways. "It's been a week after payday and yet we are all so gloomy, anyways how did you all spend your weekend with the huge bonus?" Blaise stood up as he initiated an interesting discussion.
"Well… I just bought the newly released sequel of the video game that I like," Tony muttered in a dull tone.
"Woah really? There's a new sequel out?" Sean asked Tony with amusement. "I should have bought it already." In which Tony answered in a simple nod.
The discussion later began to grow as the room started to get livelier and livelier. I smiled at the sight of my co-workers being so cheerful. Seriously, this is what the Smartshot Company should always be, comforting bunch despite the heavy workload we have.
"Yo Rex, what about your weekend?" Jeff approached me while hardly slamming his hands on my desk causing me to shriek.
"Uh... well um… I… nothing much just went around in town," I answered.
"Huh? Talk about boring. We can hardly get a bonus as huge as this and you just went around in town? Talk about being so plain," Blaise commented as he puts his hand on his waists.
"Well, different persons enjoy things differently," Harry waves his hand in front of him as he defended me.
Well obviously, that was a lie. As much as I wanted to show off my lovely girlfriend to other people, and wanting those people to meet her personally. Monika and I haven't really talked about our relationship being public, and how we will handle the excuse of hurr durr we met when she transported from the other world to here blah blah. Still, I can't let a lot of people know about her true identity just because…
Suddenly from behind, the door shut open. All of us workers quickly looked behind. I-it's Boss!
Boss let out a huge yawn while stretching her hands upwards. "Man, what a day!" She shouted in a tired manner. The whole crew just stared at her silently.
"How cute," Fred silently muttered from behind me.
"What are you guys staring at?! If you don't have any plans but to stare, you better go home. It's already closing time," she vented with an irritated tone.
"Y-yes Boss, thanks for the day!" everyone responded.
"I take that back," Fred whispered in a frightened voice.
"Good job guys, enjoy your night and take a good rest," Boss answered back as she left the business premises.
Suddenly from what I'm looking at, a few people approached me.
"Hey Rex," Jeff called. "Lara, Harry and I will be having dinner after this, wanna come join in?"
"Uhh… no, thank you… I really have to do something important on my apartment," I hesitated.
"Come on, just this once? You're slowly getting unapproachable just like Tony," Lara pleaded.
"No, I'm really sorry guys, it's just my printer broke and I…"
"Fine, fine. Too bad, I was planning to treat you tonight, how unfortunate," Harry winked with a grin.
Why do I feel like he still insists. I thought.
"Welp, it can't be helped. Stay safe on your way home, dude," Jeff grinned as he tapped my shoulder. "Be sure to tag along next time, okay?"
I simply nodded in response. "See ya!"
Of course, that's a blatant lie. My printer was perfectly fine and it's not on repairs. But still, it's equally as important as meeting your girlfriend early, right? Oh well, I hopped on my motorbike and started the engine as I drove all the way to my home. "Here I come, Monika" I internally shouted to myself as I drove through the setting sun.
Finally, I once again made it to my apartment. And as of right now, I'm currently staring at the door, imagining what Monika is doing inside my room. Is she cooking a delicious dish for dinner? Is she just simply watching TV waiting for me to come home and watch with her? Or is she preparing the bathroom so we can have a bath together?
b-bath together? H-h-h-h-how romantic!
(A/N: This is certainly not romantic)
"Oi, you there, you lost your door keys?" someone from the far side of the hallway shouted.
"Ah.. ah.. don't mind me, I just spaced out," I quickly responded as the guy signaled a thumbs up from afar.
I unlocked the door as I gently opened the door.
It's dark.
Where is Monika? Why is it so quiet here? DId she disappear? Lots of questions attacked my mind as I try to find the switch in the house.
I started calling around, "Monika, Monika? Are you here?" my worries started to come one after another.
I noticed a small light in the bedroom as I quickly ran into it.
"Monika!"
And there she is laying down on my bed with my phone glued in front of her face as she laughs every couple of seconds. I turned on the light in the bedroom to see her face just smiling and giggling like there's no tomorrow. Once she caught me glancing at her, she started to panic.
"Oh… oh Rex! You are here!" Monika quickly sat down on my bed with a panicked look. She glanced at the time on her phone. "Oh no! It's already past 6, and I haven't prepared you dinner yet!"
Monika quickly stood up away from my bed with a few tears in her eyes as she started rushing towards the kitchen. Upon approaching me, I grabbed her wrist as I drew her near me and embraced her tightly. She looked at me with a shocked yet tomato red face.
"Hey Rex, w-w-what are you…"
"Shouldn't you embrace your boyfriend first once he comes back?" I teased. My worries start to fade away. Yep, Monika is still here.
"Oh you cutie," Monika started tilting her look away from my face and rested her head on my chest and returned the embrace. "I can hear your heartbeat go doki doki, I'm so glad!" Monika commented in a calm tone as my stomach started to growl.
"Now your stomach went goro goro," Monika laughed. "Loosen up, so I can make you dinner, okay?"
"Fine," I sighed, embarrassed. "Though I can give you a hand so that we can prepare the meals sooner, because I'm reaaaaally reallt hungry…" I slightly complained as my stomach started to growl.
Monika had no choice but to accept my offer as she puts out a dumb smile on her face. "Okay~" she paused and bowed for a moment. "I'm so sowwy," she continued as she cried with lots of tears in her face.
"No, it's fine I'm not mad okay," I immediately assured her. "P-p-please don't feel bad."
Well at least, please, you make me remind of Sayori.
Evening in the kitchen.
While preparing for our dinner. Monika tasked me to remove the meat from the fish inside out, while Monika is on the other side cutting vegetables into tiny pieces at amazing speed. I was genuinely surprised at how experienced Monika is when it comes to cooking, while I was wondering what am I doing here.
Monika silently hummed a familiar tune as she paused for a moment and spoke, "You know, it's incredible how we can enjoy a full and healthy meal with fish and vegetables, top it all with rice and its perfection."
"Ah, how incredible it is," I simply answered.
"I always love learning and making healthy and delicious foods," Monika pointed out as she immediately shoved the cut carrots to the side and grabbed another one. "Look where that got me, healthy, strong, and energetic," Monika giggled.
"No wonder why you look so sexy and charming," I complimented. Monika paused chopping for a moment as she began to blush and chuckle. "Well, I wonder what are we cooking today…" I awkwardly resumed.
"Oh, we are just simply making vegetable-stuffed fish!" Monika suddenly answered. We just simply remove the meat from the inside, marinate the remaining skin, mix the fish meat with the vegetables and cook them together, then finally put it back inside the marinated fish!" Monika briefly explained.
"Oh, that's creative!" I retorted with amazement. "But… wouldn't that take a long time to finish?" I worriedly asked while my stomach began to growl.
"Don't worry about that," Monika assured. "I'll be sure that this dish will make you full for the rest of the night til morning, alongside with that cooked rice… AND ESPECIALLY you wouldn't get fat!"
"Haha, I see, I'll trust you then with regards to cooking with that!" I approved. "And uh… by the way… will you like me less if I am y'know… fat?" I asked.
"Huh? Of course not! Though I would never want you to remain unhealthy, then…" Monika paused as she looked up with a finger in her chin and continued, "wouldn't it be fun to help you lose your weight, right?" she beamed.
"After all… I might want you to be as slim as me, ahaha," Monika giggled as she started tapping her belly with a knife.
"OI, STOP DOING THAT!" I screamed so loudly that I got Monika scared as she froze.
"Wha-wh-wh-what do you mean?" Monika stuttered as she shivered..
"You might stab your belly and get really hurt… and I don't want that!" I loudly warned. "A-a-and also it brought unpleasant memories," I muttered looking away from her.
"Unpleasant memories?" Monika whispered as she wondered. "Oh, I-I-I'm sorry," Monika monotonously said with embarrassment as she continued chopping the carrot.
Evening at the bed beside Monika.
"Maaaaan, I'm still so full today, I really felt so refreshed," I exclaimed, full of satisfaction.
"Haha, feeling the same here. That really was a wonderful dinner," Monika answered back. She started pulling off the phone that I gave her and started using it.
"So that's the reason why you weren't cooking earlier," I commented.
Monika looked at me with an annoyed face for a moment as she started touching her phone again.
"Well, it's not like I can relax and use the internet, it's one of my favorite hobbies of mine," Monika answered.
"Yeah, but you've been using that all the time, you even forgot doing even the basic things such as turning on the lights," I argued.
"Oh come on, says the guy who is always in front of his computer when he is at home," Monika rebutted.
"Fine, you win okay?" I silently withdrew. "But then, most of that time, it was me staring and 'talking' with you on the other side of the dimension," I followed with an embarrassed tone.
"Oh?" Monika glared at me again with a teasing smile. "Well, I can't say that's a bad thing for the both of us, ahaha."
"Yeah," both of us chuckled at that thought.
"So… mind if I ask you what you've been browsing to in the internet?" I asked as I wonder.
"Myself, of course," Monika answered bluntly.
Ah, how narcissistic, I thought to myself.
"Call me a narcissist for looking at myself, but the internet culture in your world is so interesting!" Monika commented. "See there's an art of myself, sometimes they're really pretty, vibrant, and really interesting! I mean, I like this one with me sitting on a desk or me here writing a poem. Oh this one is interesting too, me at the library, me coming out to another dimension hugging the player, and also this one with me giving chocolates. Ah how wonderful, eh…"
Monika went on and on browsing pictures and arts of herself, also giving a small comment on each art and saying "wow's" here and there. Well, she seems happy about it so I nodded accordingly, showcasing at least a bit of care on what she's commenting. A bit cold, isn't it?
"But really, I don't know how to feel when I see some questionable arts right here," Monika said with discomfort. "At least I'm a bit decent on how I present myself, but ehh… art is art, I guess."
"Well, that's how vast the internet really is, people using their talent on their own way," I explained.
"Say Rex, you look up things like this, don't you?" Monika asked with wonder.
"Ah… hahaha well…" I paused for a moment to think of an excuse. "I just come across of that when I look of arts of you, though I don't really look for more of that when I see one," I reasoned out.
"Huh?" Monika looked at me with a disheartened look. She bowed down on her phone again and started scrolling, "Am I really that unappealing?"
Ah, what the fuck did I just say! I made an excuse and it totally backfired. W-w-w-well what should I do, what should I do?
"I'm just kidding, ahaha," Monika beamed and giggled. " I guess my little cheesecake here is just too pure and cute," she laughed as she stroked my hair to comfort me.
Well, I mean, I'm totally not that pure but I guess Monika's impression of me being this pure is not too bad.
"Anyway, what matters is that the internet really loves you for making lots of fanarts about you!" I declared just to pass on this weird topic somewhere else. "You're just like an internet celebrity!"
"Hmm, I guess that's undeniably true," Monika answered.
Then on for the next hour or two, Monika and I wandered the vast world of the internet, going through different art websites, checking out different memes, watching videos on streaming devices and lots, lots more, everything related more about Monika, the club and the game.
Time passed on
"Wow, this theory sounded interesting, what do you think about it Monika?" I asked.
"Well, I can't really say anything about it, but it sure does sound interesting." Monika blueballed.
And on
"HAHAHAHA, this Swedish bearded guy is so weird, why is he singing my name that way?" Monika cackled.
And on
"Oh man, this meme about Sayori and the noose is really hilarious!" Monika continued to burst her laughter. Oh, how morbid.
And on.
February 9, Thursday 1:38 am
"Okay, let's check another DDLC forum, Rex," Monika continued to browse.
"Yea sure, but it's past 1 am, let's leave it tomorrow," I said trying to stay awake. Monika sure doesn't seem like she lost even an ounce of energy.
"I guess this one discussion thread seems interesting, let's read the title. Is Monika a good or a bad person? Does her actions in the game justifiable." Monika stared at the screen for a few second, hesitating to tap at the thread.
I sat up from my bed to comfort her worried look. "Hey Monika, you don't even have to look at that thread," I comforted.
"No, I always wanted to look what others think of my actions?" Monika stated stoically.
"H-h-hey," I nervously warned her.
Upon looking at the thread, Monika started having watery eyes as she silently snuffled. Monika kept on scrolling at the thread, as her tears started pouring harder and her snuffles became louder. I glanced at the discussion to see harsh judgment left and right.
Unforgivable.
She deserved her punishment.
Well that's basically murder.
Selfish.
Greedy.
Obsessive.
A creep.
All the ones defending her are retards.
I can see that but why would she kill them.
She's basically video game hitler lol.
Monika started bawling as her tears keeps on falling.
"I should have, sh-sh-should have stayed there," Monika stated. "I should have not tried getting out of there…"
"Once, I've stayed on that seemingly endless void, I didn't feel anything. Just bliss, seeing and being able to chat with that player that I always believed I would eventually meet up. I dreamt and continued hoping that maybe one day, I can hold that person and show me how his or her reality works, and how I would be able to change their life," Monika muttered. "But then as time passes, all that hope, and dreams started to look not feasible, and while it happens, I just… I just felt my guilt weigh heavier, and heavier, day after day and time after time…"
"And as I thought about it, I just wished that I could delete myself," Monika cried in despair. "I killed my friends, just because of the truth and epiphany I just discovered, I killed them simply because I am greedy and selfish, but all I wanted to do is… just tell someone that I do not want to live in this limited reality, I wanted to live in your real simulation wherein memories and events seem to be endless and infinite."
"I just wish that I didn't realize what the real simulation is."
"I just wish I wasn't granted the power to know that my reality is a game."
"I just wish that I wasn't the game guide who will tell the player instructions on how to play my reality… or rather the game."
"Had if I known…"
"But then, something peculiar happened, once I felt something different from that void, I quickly kept my hopes up and wished that it would be an opportunity for me to redeem myself, if it meant staying here but seeing my friends again, I'll change for the better and surrender myself from the rules of this world…"
"Anything please, I just don't want to be alone…"
"And then suddenly I was here, confused on the things that occurred, I kept wondering if this is my second chance, did I able to reach the real simulation?"
"And then I met you, with your cute confused face, ahaha, which I assumed to be the player, I just couldn't contain myself any longer and immediately hugged you, you remember that right?" Monika beamed.
I smiled in return.
"I promised to myself that I will never harm anything or anyone again, even despite knowing that the world I transferred to isn't the real simulation, I will appreciate on what I have right now, I would appreciate the possibilities of that world I belong to, I would stop being greedy and selfish, I would change, and I be contented to what I receive. "
"So… Rex…," Monika quickly grabbed my shirt and charged her head on my chest. Despite her determined look earlier, she started sobbing lots and lots of tears. She slowly glanced at me with her teary-eyed face.
"Do you think my actions are justifiable?" Monika resumed in a calm tone.
I stared at her back with her face forming a more determined and serious look. Amidst her entire monologue earlier, this is how I could simply answer.
"That's a rhetorical question, right?" I answered.
Monika started beaming as she loosened her grip and wiped her eyes while continuously snuffling.
"Yes," she answered. "It's just a rhetorical question."
I concluded the drama with a hug as Monika started to feel at ease and hugged back.
Sometimes, the best way to answer that question is by simply saying nothing, especially if the person considered to change his or herself. Monika, despite being an internet celebrity, of course requires a secure or hidden identity. Always keep in mind, that I do not just simply want to tell others Monika's real identity because the reveal would spread all over the world and I might potentially lose her in her skyrocketing trend and popularity. I simply wanted to hide Monika's true identity because I wanted to protect her cheerfulness and her wonderful smile from the judgment that she would be able to receive in this world, and for her to live a new and improved life that she always dreamed of.
A/N: Do you think the internet references in this chapter would be more relevant if this was published a year and a quarter ago when the time DDLC is considered fresh, and this story was consistently updated?
Anyway, with regards to the game guide, specifically this line of Monika's: "I just wish that I wasn't the game guide who will tell the player instructions on how to play my reality… or rather the game." I just incorporated my theory that the club president will be the one given the role as the game guide or rather the NPC of the game. You know that one throwaway character, where he/she will tell you what to do in order to progress the game. Take for example the Froggits of Undertale wherein they basically told us to Press X or something to do this. Upon receiving this role, Monika acquired the truth that what her world is, is just a game. That's why upon deletion of Monika, Sayori became the club president or the NPC and easily ruined the game at the ending. Just wanted to put my two cents here, this might be an old theory, or probably everyone knows this already, so I don't know. :P
Tune in next chapter for the fun and exciting Valentine's day chapter special.