Beautiful Monster
Part Time Work

"Ignacia, everything's fine, right? If there is a problem and you are in pain, just tell the person you trust. Either me or your friends. If you harbor too many feelings, your presence will explode. It's gonna make it harder to live."

Ignacia drank her drink slowly, thinking about Nesya's speech silently. Both of them were silent, struggling with their own thoughts. Something's stuck, but the logic can't find a way out.

Soon Ignacia rose. Choosing to dispose of his trash better without relying on luck like Nesya did just now.

"I'm fine, don't worry. If there's something, I'll be a big trouble for you." The brown-eyed girl chuckled softly, again taking her place next to the glasses guy. Without a direct cue exhaled a long breath as if being weak body soul.

"You surprised me," annoyed Nesya. "What makes you breathe like that?"

"Just want to. I thought it would rain tonight. So I'll breathe air during the day before it rains." Ignacia stared at the invisible horizon because of the clouds. "It will be my first rain in this city" continued the girl lapse for some time. His eyes look sparkling.

Nesya nodded. This rain will also be the first for her. "But if it rains, I won't be able to go out with my roommate. He asked me to buy some stuff from the department store."

"Then may the rain come after you return from the department store" said Ignacia.

...*****...

...Rajendra ⁇ ◝ ⁇ ◜...

| It's raining, Ignacia

| It feels so cold

^^^REally? It will soon rain |^^

^^^Siang was overcast for a long time |^^^

| If so, do not play with rain

| I'm not there, so can't take care of you

| Take care of health, do not get sick

^^^I am a strong man, Rajendra |^^^

| Ignacia, listen to me

^^^Alright, I understand |^^^

| Have you had dinner?

| You didn't miss a meal right?

^^^^ Certainly already |^^^

^^^Where might I miss it |^^^

^^^What about you? |^^^

| I just finished eating

| I have something to tell you

| Can I call you?

Ignacia scrunched her forehead in confusion. What an important thing Rajendra wants to say is to switch to voice calls. Ignacia agrees. Directly get the call as soon as the message is finished reading which is at the end there.

"What's important?" Ignacia asked hesitantly.

"I got a part-time job," Rajendra replied quickly. "I got a job offer at my boarding buddy's family diner. Just as an ordinary servant, but his salary is good because the place is always crowded. I've been there and it's true."

Hearing Rajendra explain so eagerly made Ignacia also feel the same spirit. But something is troubling his mind now. Ah this man will be very busy from now on, he thought.

"That's good news. How did you get a job so fast? You don't have to go to college? Doesn't it interfere with your college, Rajendra?"

"Work is a man's nature. I will divide my time well. Just like I did with you, Ignacia. I'll divide the time between you, college, and work. You don't worry. I won't be careless and make you feel abandoned like you used to."

"But that's what I'm afraid of," Ignacia's mind.

"When will you start working? What time is it, exactly? I'll try not to bother you later." Always this feeling. Ignacia has always been afraid of disturbing Rajendra's personal life when she is very curious about his life.

Ignacia turned to sit on the side of her bed. It's not fun sitting on the carpet for too long. Sit while listening to Rajendra answer. Hugging his own knees with eyes fixed on both feet.

"I'll start work next week. Each lecture until seven o'clock. If it's the weekend, I'll work from morning until noon before lunchtime."

"Don't talk like you're a bully, Ignacia. You never bother me. I'll spend a lot of time on you every weekend. Hows it? We can do whatever you want. Send messages, make video or voice calls."

"Don't promise me anything" Ignacia grieved in her heart. He might dare to say such a thing. Something that can break someone's heart. "I'm afraid I'm expecting you too much."

"All right, I get it."

The call that night was long. Rajendra may not be having any activities until he can take his time for the lover. It was a good day, but Ignacia's heart refused to accept it. If it's like this, Rajendra will leave me for a while, he thought.

"Why did I become so sensitive when Rajendra got something good. I should have supported and not disappointed." Always Ignacia and her little heart.

"Sleep. You definitely need a break after a long exhausting day." Ignacia intends to end the call, but Rajendra rejects her on the grounds that she still wants to communicate with him. This is a little out of the habit of the man. But what can I do.

"10 minutes, huh?" Tawar Rajendra with a tone that is deliberately made as gentle as possible.

"alright. Let's talk a little longer." Simultaneously, Ignacia heard a soft groan from outside. He saw it out the window. Apparently the rain that since noon gave the sign now fell as well.

The girl behind the nightgown got up, approached the window and saw the cold grains knocking on the glass. "Well, it's my first rain" Ignacia murmured involuntarily. Smiles appear simultaneously.

"First rain?" parrot Rajendra from the end of the call.

"It's my first rain in town. We've been in college for a month, and only this time I've seen rain in this town." Ignacia returned to where she was sitting. Pull a thin blanket to cover the feet that are getting cold.

"really. Been a month. I think I'd like to meet you soon, Ignacia."

"That's a great idea. I want to meet you too."

A voice appeared from Ignacia's phone. When seen, apparently there were others who tried to contact him via voice as well. "Rajendra, I'm sorry. Someone wants to call me now. What if we end tonight?"

Not waiting for a reply from Ignacia, he immediately turned it off to let the person who contacted him quickly be able to talk to his girl.

"Why Ma?" Apparently the mama.

"Why don't you call, Ignacia? My mother is worried about your situation. It's been a month, but you haven't called. Just answer your messages rarely." The first call was attacked like this.

"I have a busy Ma. Mama knows for herself that I'm a freshman. There's so much I have to do." Ignacia's lying. He was just lazy to contact because he wanted to live alone without help. Although what he did was clearly wrong because it made his parents worried.

"You should've called mama more often, Ignacia. Mama called a few times, but you didn't pick up. Whatever are you doing? Sometimes I see you online, but I don't reply."

"I didn't turn on the voice on my phone, so don't know if there's an incoming call."

"You're the reason, Ignacia!" The father's voice came into the call. "You should have contacted the one at home, no matter what the circumstances. If something happens, who are you going to call huh?!" Did his father have to be this angry just because of a small thing?

"When you left town for a book event, you didn't answer our call either. Now you want to do the same?!"

"Alright, I'll call you guys more often later. I'm sorry. Now I'm tired, I want to rest." Getting a tirade at night is not a good thing. The feeling of happiness after hearing Rajendra's voice vanished already.

As soon as the call was over, Ignacia put her phone on the nightstand. Take a comfortable position and then go to sleep. Tonight won't be as comfortable without a scolding. His father's loud voice from the end of the call made his ears unable to bear.

"Do I really have to get that scream?" muttered at the girl before going to dreamland.

...*****...

"Good morning, what are you doing now?"

Ignacia Day begins with a phone call from a loved one. Who else if not Rajendra? This was his habit before he became very busy and left Ignacia alone. Be very good and always be there for a moment.

"I'm on my way to the campus building. How're you? Have breakfast and ready to go?"

"I did the same. Ignacia, is there something you want?" This isn't the first time. Rajendra also asked something like this a few days ago after he said about part-time work.

Maybe get ready for his first day of work today. And Ignacia will answer 'no' as usual. If he says he just wants attention, Rajendra might immediately look strange and intend to get busy. Hah, it's hard being a childish person.

"Come on, I know you want something but don't want to tell me. Just tell me anything. And I'll fulfill it all if I can."

"Here you go, I'm not a child, Rajendra. I can do what I want myself. It's a long time ago yeah, I have to turn off the call now."

"alright. I'll call you later tonight."

Ignacia instantly turned off the call. "This is what I've been waiting for. But why am I being so unkind and cold? Rajendra just wants to keep this relationship warm in fact," whispered Ignacia.

His phone was put in a bag. Continue the journey to the class on the floor. No one has seen him yet. Ignacia deliberately set off early just to sit in class, look out the window, notice those who had just entered the campus building.

"Do I have to find a part-time job so I don't think about Rajendra anymore?" Ignacia murmuring. His hand moved to grab a mobile phone and search for part-time job openings through online. Maybe there's something on social media near here.

Just opening a web, suddenly a call came to cover the screen of Ignacia's phone. The green button is shifted there with doubt. But then ventured to bring it closer to the ear. "What's calling me?"

"You're not in the dorm? I knocked on the door but no one answered."

"I'm in class. Why look for me, Danita?" Yeah, his call from a neighbor in his dorm.

"I want to take you out together. Then I'll go there."

Danita arrived about ten minutes later. Take a seat and peek at her friend's phone screen. "What are you looking for?" His whisper. He stared at Ignacia's screen and the owner took turns.

"Part-time job. I want to keep myself busy."

"Compense yourself? Isn't being a literary student busy? Why do you want to be busy?"

"To add pocket money?" Ignacia turned her head with a brief smile, "i just want to concern myself with something. Even though the pay is small, the important thing is I'm busy."

"Just because of that? I'd rather your first reason." Oh apparently Danita takes her first words seriously. His initial intention was only a joke. Danita's innocent face made Ignacia laugh amusedly. His friend was easy to believe.

"The first one is no excuse. By the way why did you want to take me away together? I thought your class wasn't here this morning." Danita took another class today. And usually Danita doesn't meet Ignacia in her class like this.

"The lecturer cannot attend. I just wanted to take this class. Also my lover came, he brought this." Danita took something out of her bag. A paper bag was placed on him. "He made his own snacks. I said I should share with you too."

"Share with me?" Such a thing was certainly never imagined by Ignacia. After this girl's kindness, now she's getting the kindness of her lover too? Wow they are a couple who look far-fetched.

"He made a lot for his friends too. Just take. He learned to make this from his college friends in other majors. So it's not gonna be as bad as I thought." Danita smiled brightly, taking Ignacia's hand to receive the package she was carrying.

"Thank you, Tata. Give my thanks to your girlfriend too. I'm troubling you guys."

"Hey you're not a hassle. If it's good, I'll have him make it again, hehe."

...*****...

There was a thirty minute break before the next class. You could say this is the right time to contact his parents about wanting to find a part-time job. Maybe there will be ease in looking for it if you have obtained permission. Though somewhat doubtful, Ignacia did it anyway.

"I want to talk to you about something."

It just so happened that her mother raised her. Ignacia could be more open. "Tell me. What's calling this clock? Mama thinks you have class now."

"I want to work part-time" muttered Ignacia. So nervous, Ignacia could only mutter.

"Huh? What are you talking about Ignacia?" Her mother, who was at this age, could not understand what her first child said. His voice was so faint as the sound of the wind.

The girl braced herself, clenched her hands to gather the courage she had gathered since morning. Hope there is no rejection. "I want to work part-time" Ignacia repeated.

"Working part-time? Where's?" Her mother asked back.

The fresh wind seemed to hit Ignacia's tense body. The hot weather in the campus park is the place to wait for the next class as if not felt. From the voice of his mother it sounded like there was no rejection as desired.

"I haven't found him yet. I asked permission to be facilitated in looking for him. Hows it? Did I get permission?"

"Work part-time?"

Wait for. Why is there a change in tone here?