Beautiful Monster
Surprise Preparation

"How's mom doing?" Amira finally managed to complete her household tasks. Sit down and call her mother as usual. Just turned on the fan and threw yourself into the living room soft sofa. "I just relaxed. I wish I could eat sweet cake again. By the way why did you call me back?"

"Do you have a reason to call your own child?" Amira turned her eyes away after hearing her mother's words. "Mom was just wondering what you were doing. Rajendra and Gafar are not home. Your father is also now out to buy something. So I'm home alone."

Amira is alone too. Maaz went to school, Qabil was certainly at work. There are still three hours before Amira has to pick up her only child. "Mother, after this Maaz will be his birthday. Can I celebrate at Mom's? The plan is I'll make a cake and we'll eat together."

There was a pause of a few seconds before his mother agreed. Amira wants her mother to keep this matter a secret from her father and others. Let it be another surprise besides his return some time ago. Amira's mother asked, "Why are you going home more often now? Usually you're reluctant to come if mom doesn't ask you to despair."

The rarity is heard from Amira. He just wanted to stop staring at the white wall in his house full of Maaz scribbles. Amira also admitted that being a housewife was more fun when she could spend time with family out of the house. Amira promises to come on the weekend so as not to disturb the activities of her two great men.

"Oh yeah can I know Ignacia's phone number, ma'am? Don't tell Rajendra if I ask for it."

...*****...

Rajendra could hardly believe that Nesya was actually dating someone. Ignacia was initially distrustful as well, but after seeing Nesya's closeness to Farhan, Ignacia finally believed. Farhan's name was like Rajendra had heard before somewhere. It may be true in High School as Ignacia says.

Ignacia wants to show Farhan a picture because Rajendra is curious about how this man is. Maybe Rajendra also saw it because his lover had met many people while in the organization. Maybe he also feels familiar later. Unfortunately Ignacia doesn't have it. Also his social media Ignacia doesn't know.

They begin to second-guess whether Farhan may be the man who won the contest and performed at the event the night before High School graduation. Ignacia doesn't think it's Farhan. His voice and appearance are much different. Who else could they know? It seems like there is no more.

"About when can we have a threesome?" Ignacia managed to make Rajendra snort when he heard his question. "Why? Isn't it exciting we play three? They were both my best friends during college. You can meet Farhan in person later."

"No, I don't want to do it. I'd rather just date you, Ignacia. It feels weird dating someone else. It's nice because we did it together, but I don't like it much now. We're planning our next date."

Ignacia almost let loose laughing at night. The annoyed Rajendra instantly changed in the last sentence earlier. "Well, just plan where we go for the next date. Next week we celebrate our anniversary. Can we meet?" There was a long silence from Rajendra's side. A signal that they will postpone the meeting on that important day again.

"It doesn't feel like we've been together for almost ten years now. What do you think of our relationship, Rajendra? Maybe we can talk about it when we meet up sometime." A small smile appeared on the corner of Ignacia's lips. The important thing is that they can meet even if not on a birthday.

Rajendra promises to see Ignacia if he gets another day off. "Thank you for understanding, Ignacia. I also want to talk about our relationship when we meet. I'll try to see you early next month. I think by the end of this month I'll be very busy. No problem for you, right?"

If the reply was to meet with Rajendra, where perhaps Ignacia refused. Rajendra said he would take his girlfriend somewhere nice and talk about relationships. There is something interesting about Rajendra's tone, making Ignacia curious about what he will say.

Rajendra's call must end soon because there is something he must do. It just so happened that Ignacia also got a message from someone carrying a vibration when her ear was still close to the phone. "Thank you for making time for me tonight, Rajendra."

The message came from Rananta. Dianti has returned to the overseas city to return to work. It's time to talk about their plan to go to Dianti's workplace. Rananta scheduled a three-day meeting before going to Dianti's place. Ignacia had already decided if he would definitely come, so Rananta had nothing to worry about.

Some people have not made a decision. Rananta was a bit anxious. If many are unable to join, maybe the schedule can be adjusted to them. Or only those who could come.

...*****...

Amira is now standing in front of her son's school. In her left hand was a plastic bag containing ingredients for a birthday cake. Maaz would have loved it if this year his mother made herself a cake on a special day. There was no smile on his face as usual. The people who saw him were unable to say hello for fear of the woman's flat gaze.

In five minutes Maaz will be out of class, so Amira stands right next to the school fence for Maaz to see. Some whispers were heard from some parents who were also waiting for their children. Always talking about women who they think are crazy because they can explode at any time. Don't they feel sorry for Amira who always hears that sad story?

A call came into Amira's cell phone, and soon she saw who she wanted to talk to. Apparently the husband. "Ira, today I'm going home a little late, a colleague of mine suddenly got sick and I want to help with his work." Always Qabil with the kindness of his heart. Amira will not complain, she can wait if the reply is Qabil.

"What if I buy food from the outside so you don't have to bother making dinner?" Qabil wanted to avenge the delay of returning home with food. Maybe Amira can forgive more. The food will also stay warm once he gets home.

Amira will not go against her husband's wishes either. Besides, he doesn't have any ideas for cooking tonight. Hopefully Qabil doesn't come home too late. "Thank you for understanding, Ira. Are you at Maaz school? It's time for him to go home." Despite his busy work, Qabil still remained attentive to his son.

A father type that is hard to find.

The boy's steps were getting faster, wanting to hug his mother immediately. Amira almost staggered backwards in a hug after her son's hard run. "Have you been waiting for me for a long time?" The beaming face of the Maaz was emitting a light that only Amira could see. So his activities from morning to noon at school seemed to disappear when he saw the mother.

"Dad called, tell her something." The woman who is still hugged by her child is lowering her phone so that it can directly approach her child's ear.

Maaz heard about what Amira heard earlier. About coming home late and having dinner. Maaz always liked it when his father brought fried rice that was sold near his father's workplace. Maaz eagerly ordered the meal without waiting for his father to ask for the menu. The interaction of Qabil and his son always makes Amira happy. Maaz still hugged himself.

...*****...

On the day of the meeting, Rananta invited friends to his house. Everyone came, only the one that was empty at the end of the month was less than half. Only Rananta, Hanasta, and Ignacia remained. Then the owner of the idea asked whether his two friends still wanted to come along. Maybe if in doubt, they can reschedule.

"It's okay, we used to visit. Dianti must be happy to see us coming," advises Ignacia. This plan did not go perfectly. Importantly Ignacia will not be alone going to that place anymore. Dianti later might be able to provide information about Rajendra's whereabouts as well. "Oh yeah what should we prepare?"

"The plan is that I will give a small snack to Dianti so that he can eat at rest. What do you think, Hanasta?" Now the focus of these two friends turned to him sitting on the left.

"We brought snacks for Dianti and her friends at the cafe." Hanasta's idea is good. Then they had to make sure there were how many people there were in the cafe back then. Since Dianti did not discuss the matter, Hanasta suggested for two of them to visit first and the other friend brought a suitable snack. "For everything to be done."

Ignacia offered to come last. Rananta later so he can be with Hanasta to stop by first. Who knew Ignacia could wander around for a while in the city. Recalling the path Ignacia once walked to meet her lover. May Dianti have something that Ignacia is looking for.

That night Rajendra called his girlfriend. I asked her what she was doing all day. Because chatting with friends at Rananta's house, Ignacia so not holding a cell phone except to call his father. Rajendra who sent a message during the day was only replied in the afternoon. It's not usually Ignacia that way, so Rajendra is curious.

The girl was honest about meeting the girls at Rananta's house without mentioning Dianti's surprise. As much as possible Ignacia refrained from delivering on her important plans later this month. Ignacia keeps the book she used to wait for Rajendra. By the way it's nice that Rajendra is looking for him.

"How was your day, Rajendra?"

"Just like the day before. I'm tired and I want to hear your voice." Rajendra sounds different tonight. His tone was as contrived. "Ignacia, what if we met at a time we didn't plan to? Like a destiny without our predictions."

"That sounds like fun." Very much in line with what Ignacia wants to do later this month. Accidentally meeting in the city that the girl is going to. Ignacia asked, "Why do you think so? Is there anything interesting that just happened?"

Rajendra is only curious after remembering about Ignacia's sudden arrival at the restaurant. The man missed to remember the past. At least now Ignacia knows that Rajendra still remembers the day he gathered the courage to come to the man that night.

A small smile expands on the man's face, adding charm. While his eyes were staring at the ceiling where he had spent the night, Rajendra's mind incessantly twisted the moment he last met Ignacia. "I hope the beginning of the month comes sooner and lasts longer when we spend time together."

The call from her lover could not last long. Ignacia wants to let her lover rest. Ignacia thanked him as usual, hoping next time Rajendra will also notice like today. As soon as the call was cut off, silence immediately greeted in a friendly manner. Everyone was in the back room, father and mother trying to improve the value of their two children in the new school year.

The girl who was about to grab her novel back from the top of the nightstand gasped in shock knowing her phone was shaking once. A new message came in. Who is this guy? His number came from a contact that Ignacia did not keep. When viewed from the profile photo that appears, Ignacia does not know who the woman who has married this family.

The message reads say hello, asking Ignacia for news as well. Who has changed their number recently? All nine of Ignacia's close friends still use the same number, as do those Ignacia knew in college. There is no way Rajendra because from the photos that are clearly plastered - the photos taken from behind this is not his lover.

The number sends another message, calling itself Amira. His name is similar to Rajendra's first brother. Ignacia ventured to open the message she had observed from the lock screen. Come to think of it, Rajendra's older sister has the same family members as in the profile.

Ignacia thought for a moment, if this is a scam, hopefully Ignacia can find out right away. Replying to the incoming message, asked if there was any need for Amira to contact him. The two had not been able to exchange numbers so Ignacia was not so sure. A person named Amira then asked permission to call Ignacia.

Should Ignacia ask Rajendra first to be sure? That's the only number Ignacia knows. By the way how could Rajendra's mother keep her number? The two had never communicated via cell phone before.

The girl thought for a moment. As soon as the message from Ignacia was sent, a call filled the screen of his phone. The sound that appeared relieved Ignacia's heart. "Hi, Ignacia. I got your number from Mom. I have something to ask you. Can you help me make chocolate cake then? Maaz will be on his birthday later this month."

A surprise. Someone called him to ask about something he happened to know.