Beautiful Monster
Good Friend

"Will I get home at night? Is it okay to travel these nights?" Athira was worried about her brother. Of course the news of Ignacia going to her lover in the neighboring city has reached the ears of Athira and her mother. Athira was worried because the night was not a friendly time for women.

The corner of Athira's eyes caught the figure that had just passed through her room whose door was wide open. The existence of Athira in the room attracted the attention of the figure who had just passed by it. "Is that your brother?" asked her father who was the one who made Athira look towards the door.

The daughter nodded, telling Ignacia that her father was here. When offered a cell phone, his father refused and continued to move somewhere. Athira brought her phone back to her right ear, "father is gone. Sis, if there's anything suspicious, just call me. Today I'm not going anywhere."

Ignacia looked at her phone strangely, she was sure she was contacting Athira who was her sister. Why is Athira worried when she is older than this sister? Ignacia assures Athira that she will be fine. The city of Rajendra is also always crowded even after midnight. He'll be fine.

With a ticket in hand, Ignacia waited for her train to reach Rajendra's place. His heart had already been beating uncontrollably due to the shock he had planned himself. I can't wait to see her boyfriend again after not seeing him for so long. Can't wait to go back to see it in person and chat all the way home.

"That's it, don't worry. I'm your brother."

"How not to worry? Mama was against it when she first heard about sister's plan? Just call me if there's anything. Give news to mama also when she gets to Kak Rajendra city."

Ignacia would rather than hear Athira keep raving about her safety. The call ended immediately after Ignacia left. His phone was stored in a bag, as well as the ticket he had just held. Time to wait for the train to arrive.

Ignacia already remembered the address of the restaurant and how to get there. All he had to prepare now was just a stable emotion as well as calmness of heart in order not to make mistakes. "I'm finally going to see Rajendra. She must be happy to see me too, right?" ask yourself a few times.

A week ago Ignacia confirmed when Rajendra would return home. It just so happens that his lover did not get suspicious because he was too busy working. There was not even any question after Ignacia was so curious about the return of her lover. What did Rajendra think?

...*****...

"I'm sorry for asking you to stay here when you go home. You could've been honest with my dad if you were going home. Wouldn't it be a hassle if you used the night train?" Bagas looks at the clock on the wall while his hands are busy washing the cutlery beside Rajendra who is in charge of drying the cutlery that his friend has washed.

Rajendra shook his head, still wanting to work and trying to be more helpful. The last few days he was a bit less hard working because he was busy with education. It doesn't seem fair if he takes advantage of the family kindness of his roommates by working at will.

Bagas finished washing the last tableware. He was sitting near the table behind the two standing earlier. Seeing his friend work hard when he should have gone home made him feel happy. "Ignacia was lucky to get a better man than me," she said.

That afternoon it was time for a break before opening again at dinner time. The employees are now sitting near the cashier table while watching the television in the corner of the room. There is a football match, so everyone who is a male employee watches with excitement.

Rajendra and Bagas join half-completing tasks in the kitchen. Sitting near their seniors and listening to the match that has gone nowhere. Iseng Rajendra glanced at the wall clock, hopefully he can get home before midnight. Both of his parents as well as Ignacia would definitely wait for his return.

He thought that Ignacia's question of when she would return was related to her girl's desire to send a message or just to pay attention as usual. Rajendra hopes not to disappoint his girl again for not coming in on her sixth birthday.

"After work you'll go back to the boarding house and go straight to the station?" tanya Bagas. He was just asking. No.no mean anything. Rajendra gave only a small nod. The focus is back on the television screen there.

...*****...

Once out of the station, the sunset welcomes the arrival of Ignacia, leaving the sky with a red tinge of orange. The outside of the station, which was also crowded with passengers, was also a vehicle waiting for someone to bring their own emotions to Ignacia. It feels very different from the first time you set foot alone in a foreign city when signing a book.

Here the air is warmer than the city because it is not in the highlands. Not warm because the sun just left. It just feels warm because Ignacia knows someone will protect her while she's here. More toward a comfortable warmth when he knows someone will be by his side. "I like it here" muttered the girl.

Holding the strap of her sling bag, Ignacia walked to find the nearest bus stop. Dianti said Ignacia only needed to change buses once to get to the restaurant where Rajendra worked. Ignacia's smile continued to expand until she was at the bus stop. His heart was tingled because it would soon meet the idol of the heart.

Ignacia sat at the stop with the workers still fully equipped wearing shirts and uniforms. While there were some young couples in high school uniform passing in front of them while holding hands and slightly bowing their bodies, intending to politely pass in front of the older ones.

Ignacia was like seeing herself and Rajendra when she was in high school. It's just that the two were never seen hand in hand blatantly when wearing school uniforms. After passing the bus stop, they continued the delayed chat. Every now and then a glance is accompanied by laughter.

The bus came after a long wait. Ignacia let others enter before her so as not to overcrowd. The bus was full because it was time to go home. He was standing while holding on to the bus above. Ignacia's sight fell on the crowded streets that the bus passed. The city of Rajendra is not much different from the view of the city where Ignacia studied.

Ignacia's focus returns as the bus stops at the stop where Ignacia must change buses. The girl with the sling bag waited until the next bus came. The street lights were already on, making the city streets again clearly visible. Ignacia looked around before taking out the phone, checking the current time.

There's still plenty of time before Rajendra gets home. Ignacia's best to have dinner while she's waiting for her lover. What if Ignacia comes to Rajendra's workplace and eats there? But can the plan still work out if Rajendra finds him sitting at one of the tables he happens to deliver?

"so apparently. Because it was night, I was worried. Oh yeah, guess who I'm with." The voice call turned into a video call after Ignacia allowed it. "I met Nesya while walking around the city. Now we're eating instant noodles together."

Ignacia chuckled at the sight of her two friends showing off a bowl of instant noodles each. Ignacia was convinced that it was the same instant noodle that Ignacia and Nesya had had eaten. "You cheats, why don't you take me out to eat together?" Ignacia clenched her lips in a pretended annoyance.

"We might ruin your plan to pick up Romeo. If it works, don't forget to send us the news? Nesya and I will eat noodles and snacks before going home. Oh yeah, be careful when you're on the road, Ignacia." Danita is a very considerate friend. It was almost like Athira was worried about her brother.

"I want to talk too. Hey Ignacia don't forget dinner. Eat something delicious and special while you wait for Rajendra because today is special for you, right? Have fun" Nesya said. The glasses girl waved and smiled at Ignacia.

...*****...

The Bagas family restaurant is getting quite crowded tonight. Maybe because of the holidays, so many families with student children who come to eat here. After one family leaves, another family will occupy a table that must be quickly cleaned. Rajendra goes back and forth delivering food and only focuses on which table to order.

Bagas on duty stands behind the cashier because a friend who should be in this position permits to go to the toilet for a while. He himself was also overwhelmed by not being used to using the cash register despite having seen several times his friend operate this machine. Win he'd better deliver food like Rajendra.

The line in front of him was long. If his friend does not come soon, Bagas must hasten his business with these customers. Arriving at the umpteenth customer, Bagas felt his vision deteriorate and began to hallucinate. Immediately he rubbed his rough eyes and returned to look at the customer standing before him.

"Would you serve me or just rub your eyes?" ketus the customer messing around. "Recommend me something delicious and take home" the customer continued, staring at the menu on the table. All meals for a portion of more than two people.

"How come you're here?" confused Bagas.

"Don't you have to make me order so that the queue doesn't get longer?" whispered the customer.

Bagas who was a little nervous asked this customer to pull over for a while. Let Bagas finish his task while the customer who had not ordered was sitting next to him. There he won't bother anyone. His friend felt relaxed, but very different from Bagas.

Once Bagas' friend finally returned and took over the customer's order afterwards so that Bagas could evacuate this friend to his father's empty office. Bagas immediately attacked his friend with many questions once the door was closed perfectly.

"How come you're here? You gave me a heart attack. Rajendra is still working. You haven't been able to meet him. You want to surprise him? You're gonna have a hard time meeting her if it's a lot like this, you know?"

"Hey why are you so angry with me? I didn't come to disturb your staff." Ignacia folded her hands in front of her chest, "I was confused to wait for Rajendra where. I'm hungry too, right if I come to buy food? Why are you so angry?"

Bagas is not angry. He was surprised that his ex-girlfriend had come. Luckily Rajendra was in the kitchen and could not see the girl coming. Also Bagas hurriedly brought Ignacia into the room before his cashier friend saw the girl.

"Here's all the food for the big portions. Therefore, this restaurant is visited by more than two families. You want what? Let me get it for you." Bagas's tone softened. However Ignacia came all the way here with good intentions to meet her lover. Bagas also could not make his friend hungry.

Ignacia thought for a moment. "Just up to you. I want something not spicy." After receiving Ignacia's order, Bagas walked out of the room. Mata Bagas caught the figure of his friend who was still working. His thick-browed friend will definitely be happy to get a surprise from his lover.

No matter where he was, Rajendra turned to Bagas who was still standing in front of his father's room for a few seconds. Bagas' feeling was already uneasy because of that gaze. Rajendra has been dating Ignacia for a long time. They could definitely sense each other's existence, he thought.

After Rajendra's departure back to the kitchen, Bagas approached the cook who had just finished changing the pan, ordered a non-spicy portion of fried rice and went to make a cold drink. Bagas pretended not to be aware of the strange aura that existed around him. Hope Rajendra is not suspicious.

Bagas on call after the order in particular is completed. Bagas was lucky because he did not have time to get the question for who the food was. The restaurant is too crowded. Even the Bagas order was cooked together with other orders that happened to be not spicy either.

Soon a plate of fried rice complete with other complementary ingredients brought Bagas into the room. Don't forget the cold drink so Ignacia doesn't choke. "Eat. You don't have to pay, let's just say congratulations because you got here safely."

Ignacia chuckles. The feeling of rainya when going to enter this restaurant instantly disappeared. "I'll pay for it. I didn't come here to bankrupt your family business. Thank you for bringing my order here."

Bagas did not move from where he stood beside Ignacia. His feet look like they're pecking. Guilt comes on suddenly. Just like when he saw Ignacia at the college event that time. "I'm glad to let you go, Ignacia. That's why you meet great men like Rajendra."

Ignacia ate her first mouthful while looking at someone who had just spoken to her. Even the spoon Ignacia used was still a bite. Immediately released the spoon to reply to Bagas. "Can you let me eat in peace? I'm hungry."