Beautiful Monster
Feels Familiar

"This is my friend, Danita and this is her mother and this" Ignacia did not dare to continue her words. Afraid Bahri refused to be introduced. Especially if both of his parents are unable to recognize him. Years passed without them meeting each other. A lot of changes happened to Bahri.

Danita proudly said that this man standing next to her was her lover. Bahri finally shook hands with both Ignacia's parents as if she had only met for the first time. Bahri had even said his name but was still not remembered by his former neighbor.

Mama Ignacia shakes hands with a woman who is similar in age to her, getting acquainted with a friendly throw smile at each other. While Ignacia's father looked a little awkward. Maybe because of meeting a mother who actually came with her son's boyfriend instead of husband.

Danita introduces Ignacia to her mother. Ignacia was the friend Danita always told her mother about. Good hostel neighbors and pleasant campus friends he said. Ignacia would be ashamed to be praised. Moreover, Bahri who heard it as if smiling mockingly.

Next Nesya is introduced. The look on Bahri's face that was all mocking instantly changed when she heard that her boyfriend's friend had never dated. It might sound natural, it's just that Bahri was a bit surprised. Silent friends like Ignacia already have lovers, while friends do not.

Funny to see this friend of his son explaining a lot to his mother. Mama Ignacia smiled a long time ago hearing Danita. A sweet and talkative boy. He seems to be close to his parents, too. It's a pity that her father couldn't come to her graduation.

This woman's face and voice as her father knew it, was similar to someone who scared Ignacia of having a lover. But how can the world be this narrow? The world is not making itself remember the past that should only be remembered for learning, right? Perhaps his memory was wrong, thought this man whom Ignacia had called his father.

It was not only the husband who thought so, his wife too, mother Ignacia felt something strange. His memory is not as sharp as before but it feels like he has met the mother of his son's friend. The hand grips he felt looked similar to the woman he had once found extremely chaotic for the first time.

Rather than keep guessing, mother Ignacia asked about the origin and some other things that felt insensitive. Small talk that can add friendship and such. Branched minds are inevitable, as much as they share feeling information back to the past always comes and goes.

Already confused by the strange feeling now instead introduced to unknown men. Ignacia's father's feelings were getting more and more branched. Who is this boy who is called a good man? His son seemed happy to get a bouquet of flowers from him and was so brave to be brought before his father.

The mind of this older man seemed to refuse to meet the man introduced by the firstborn. His heart is not ready to know if Rajendra is the one his daughter loves. For years she kept Ignacia from dating and having men she cared about more. Is it time to accept a new family member?

It is still in the introductory stage now, who knows if Rajendra will be serious with his daughter and bring his parents to meet. The father cannot be as friendly as his wife. Maybe because I'm not used to it. Ignacia was an adult, it was only natural to fall in love.

Rajendra is not threatening, polite, friendly, and sincere when looking at Ignacia. Didn't today come too soon? His father had not even made Ignacia very happy to be a member of this family. Can't make Ignacia cry silently.

Ignacia kept her phone in a bag after being asked by her father. He immediately took his spoon to eat the first feed. His father clearly saw Ignacia's smile when he opened the photo he said was sent by Nesya. Who could make her son smile? Rajendra again? That nice guy?

The dinner is not finished there. Before returning home his father wanted all family members to complete the call of nature so that during the long journey home later did not have to stop at the gas station or minimarket. To get home quickly and rest.

Ignacia left before the family finished eating. His stomach must have been hungry so he could eat quickly. Hence he remained at the table while the others went to the toilet. His father also finished eating first, ending up sitting alone with his daughter.

The girl in front of him was still busy playing mobile phones, probably looking through the photos. Again there was a smile that appeared out of sight. "Where did you meet? Where did Rajendra go to college? Is the house in town?" A few questions instantly slid perfectly from the lips of the father. As if attacking Ignacia into silence.

Ignacia wouldn't lie to her father if they met from second grade Junior High. Without bringing up the fact that the two were dating after a few weeks of getting to know each other. About Rajendra going to college where Ignacia answered as far as she knew. The university where he doesn't know sometimes Rajendra doesn't say it either. Ignacia doesn't want to know other than Rajendra himself actually, so don't check the school's data.

For where Rajendra lives, it can certainly be answered from the fact that the two met during Junior High. His home is close to middle and high school. Consider it one of the houses in the area. Ignacia was quite surprised to see her father who was not angry, her father could already understand about Ignacia's personal life?

"Did that kid treat you well?" This question further froze Ignacia. When answering this question, Ignacia could not move any other limb but her mouth. "That kid never let you down, Ignacia? How's she doing to you?"

"He's a good boy, achiever too, disappointed in a human being it's natural. But it wasn't the disappointment that almost stopped me from having a good relationship with him." Ignacia's ability to cope with nervousness began to develop. Ignacia explained in an indifferent tone as if it was no big deal. His father probably just wanted to know.

His father was just bearded, distracting by playing mobile phone. This man's mind is getting branched so it's better to be diverted with other activities. It may be looking at social media or incoming messages from some close friends and relatives.

After a while, the family reassembled at the table. The driver still wants to enjoy a break, give it twenty minutes, he said. Ignacia just use the time left before going home to contact someone. Even though he did not stare directly, the father could see his daughter rising from the chair. Approaching the phone to the ear.

The father could not give an answer. The familiar feeling he felt had no evidence whatsoever to justify or refute his wife's expression. He was also interested in the activities of the girl outside the restaurant. The smile and laughter that seemed to be talking to his cell phone seemed nauseating.

Mama Ignacia was not unaware of the gaze her husband was looking at her eldest child since earlier. The phrase was actually to take his eyes off. "Ignacia is now an adult. For the first time he introduced someone to us. Dad's curiosity is over now, isn't it? That's Ignacia's version of a good man."

The curiosity ended, there was nothing to cover up. It's just that now the worry is coming. That guy was really being nice, right? How long has he been with Ignacia? Ignacia was not easy to get along with and earlier she looked close to Rajendra. Closer than his son's relationship with his two friends.

They chatted for ten minutes. Ignacia asks if Rajendra is close to reaching the destination station and if they can meet again in the near future. Meeting a glimpse with Rajendra makes his longing even more passionate. Although the other meeting will only make Ignacia more homesick.

Ignacia also tells Rajendra about her plans with her friends this weekend. Make sure his girlfriend does not meet on that day. Rajendra is confused about what Ignacia will do if she meets in the near future, the girl is just as confused. There is no harm in going on a date to eat ice cream. Like the typical courtship of both. What matters is that they meet.

"I'll call if I get a day off. You don't mind, do you?" Rajendra should get ready to come down. Soon he arrived at the city where he had been living all this time. Return to the overseas with a thousand busy until rarely home.

"Where might I mind. Be careful on the road, Rajendra." As the call ended, Ignacia kept the phone away from the ear while walking into the restaurant. There his father immediately averted his eyes so as not to be caught spying. Finally the call that I don't know from who it is ended.

...*****...

"Mother, how's the food?" Danita made sure her mother liked the menu she ordered. "Did Mom like it? I heard this food is quite popular in this restaurant, so I wanted to try it with Mom." Some of Danita's separate side dishes put them on her mother's plate, code for the woman before her to try the others.

Bahri smiled happily at the warmth of this little family beside her. Women who are very respectful of this can finally look more lifeless. The look of his eyes and flat lips when staring at Danita is no longer visible. "Auntie should eat a lot. Danita's been saving up a lot of money to buy her all the food that Auntie wants."

The woman further widened her smile, moving to hold her daughter's hand gently. Seeing Danita successfully complete her undergraduate education alone has made her very proud. Moreover, seeing his daughter now seemed to have recovered from the trauma. Really lucky they get to meet Bahri.

Danita who used to be shy and difficult to talk to has now returned to her original attitude. Smart to get along and easy to socialize, even managed to introduce the mother to their friends and parents. His mother said if this food was more than enough, good, no need to buy anything more. It should be his mother who entertained his son because he was graduating, not the other way around.

His son certainly disagreed. He considers himself an adult and should make his parents happy and not feel alone. He even promised to find a job close to home to be able to accompany his mother. After getting enough, Danita wants to move out of the place that brought her worst trauma. Go to a safe house from wild animals.

His mother scrunched her forehead confused, did Danita bis leave Bahri in her old house just to get away from the place full of misery? Her mother wasn't sure if the girl stopped by far from Bahri. In fact, Bahri volunteered to find the majors he wanted in the city of Danita choice. They cannot be separated.

"By the way, your friend's parents named Ignacia seem familiar. Did we meet before?" A different topic brought on suddenly stopped Danita's activities for drinking. His lips that will come into contact with the edges of the glass so urung.

Looking from the distance of the house, there was no way they had ever met. Their home is too far from Ignacia. Even if you accidentally meet it, it is impossible. Danita was not so sure, the strange feeling she always felt every time she was with Ignacia felt stronger after meeting the girl's parents.

"Maybe Aunty just feels Dejavu. Ordinary people feel that when they have never been in a state or time that is running," Bahri said after listening to the conversation. "Tante doesn't have to worry, it's all normal."

The woman across the table nodded in understanding, maybe what Bahri said was true. Where could they possibly meet such a distance. The incident happened years ago too. The time is right to forget the faces of those who helped them. Danita's mother's memory is a little ungodly.

If you remember, those who helped Danita on that terrible night were young, most likely they were the same age as her at this time. The face of Ignacia's parents seemed to hint at something. His eyes seemed to carry memories of the past. The mother had a voice similar to that of the young woman.

"Mom, don't think about the hard stuff. We better enjoy the time. No need to look back." Danita's hands are now in her mother's hands. His thumb slowly stroked the mother's hand, channeling positive emotions.

Danita will not deny if the feeling of wanting to protect Ignacia is getting stronger at the parent's introductions event. But also do not believe if the two families have met before. If so both Ignacia and Danita would have remembered it. Children's memories are always stronger when it comes to important moments.

"What if we order dessert too?" Bahri interrupts, expelling strange emotions at the table. Danita nodded, sweet and cold food can definitely help the feeling of indecision. "Then let me order. Auntie and you wait here."