Beautiful Monster
Unintentionally

"Ah no, no."

Ignacia shook her head several times, trying to dispel the memories of events she disliked. The inauguration day of 8th grade was not a good day even if there was someone who looked at them like brothers.

"Still thinking about that dream?" Rajendra's whisper is right next to Ignacia's ear. Making the girl jerk and hit Rajendra's arm slowly.

"Don't bother me, Rajendra." Ignacia.

"Haha okay. What's wrong with kissing me first? It was also a dream." He said fine, but still talking about Ignacia's dream. This tall man is unbelievable.

Rajendra still wants to take Ignacia for a walk before driving her home. He said to enjoy the day at the mall which happened to be crowded. It does not feel boring if there are many people who are on the move.

"Where are we going?" Ignacia asked, turning to Rajendra who was walking beside her.

From then on, the hands of both were linked. Just in case Ignacia then runs off leaving Rajendra to something that catches her eye.

"We go for a walk while looking for something interesting. Why are you in such a hurry? Your family will be home later in the afternoon, right?"

Mama Ignacia called, said she was going home late in the afternoon and asked Ignacia to really eat. Rajendra can confirm that. Mama Ignacia trusts Rajendra more than her own son when it comes to it. Ignacia sometimes has a bad mood that makes her not want to eat.

"Oh what is this sound?" Ignacia sharpened her hearing, she sure heard the familiar sound of the song from the side of the mall over there. The two were getting closer to the part where an event was held. They were in this city all the time, yet had not seen an event like this before.

"Well contest," muttered Ignacia after arriving at the floor divider. On the first floor, in the second building of the mall, the atmosphere was more lively and friendly. There was a man in clothes dominated by the colors of the middle earth singing catchy-tone songs, his vibes cheerful and full of nostalgia.

"You know this song Ignacia?" Rajendra asked, staring at the girl whose gaze was only on the man below.

"Ignacia," call Rajendra again for not getting an answer immediately. And it was uncomfortable for Ignacia to look at the other man before her.

"Yes, I know this song. It's Car Crash."

Chase me out of your bed just to tell me, “come back”

And the singles don’t mix so they crash you

The bloodshot eyes will be wet

All the worry descendin’

It was beautiful, beautiful

Ignacia enjoyed the song that the man was singing so well. It was like seeing the original singer-eaJ perform on stage. One of Ignacia's idols since a year ago.

"Your favorite song?" Rajendra asked again.

Ignacia simply nodded in response. His mouth sang without sound like the audience downstairs. Hah, it must be really nice if eaJ really comes to his city and greets the fans.

"What is this song about?" Rajendra's voice again.

"About the sweet times in relationships with loved ones. An unexpected meeting is a sweet moment."

It was like Ignacia was seeing herself from the song. An unexpected encounter that then becomes a sweet moment.

A thunderous applause filled the entire floor, even reaching the 3rd floor, where Ignacia and Rajendra were watching. The black-haired girl clapped her hands, letting go of Rajendra's astonished hands. The man did not understand why Ignacia looked happy and sad at the same time.

"Where have we gone? I want to eat ice cream."

Ignacia returned her entire focus to Rajendra, again holding the hand of the tall man beside her to resuscitate. Rajendra might get carried away by the atmosphere until just staring straight at the stage there.

"Rajendra," and Ignacia repeat the call.

"Oh what?"

"Where are we going? I want to eat ice cream."

"Then we'll get some ice cream."

...*****...

Ignacia looked at Rajendra who was in front of her. From then on it seemed like something this man was thinking about. Slowly Ignacia's hand moved to touch Rajendra's free hand, "is something bothering you? What about the organization at school?"

Rajendra's eyes now focused on Ignacia, she shook her head slowly. But he was clearly lying. If not, why does he seem to have a plan in his head? Just Ignacia, or does Rajendra seem to be weighing things?

"Ignacia, after this can't we walk around any longer? I don't want to get you back sooner." What's with that look Rajendra gave you? Why don't you want to get Ignacia back quickly?

"Where are we going?"

"Where do you want to go?"

Instead of answering, Rajendra asked. He should be honest if he doesn't have any ideas. All I wanted was for Ignacia to stay longer with him. Who knows if he'll be so busy after this. Just in case. There's something Rajendra is afraid of.

"Wanna come by my house for a minute? There's something I want to give you."

"That means I'll get you back in time. It's the same, Ignacia." True as well, Ignacia was unaware of it. The two laughed, almost forgetting that the ice cream in their hands was not an ice cream that would last forever.

Ignacia ends her eyes with Rajendra, her ice cream needs attention. "Here you go, let's eat some ice cream and then go home. I'm sure you're busy today, Rajendra."

"No, I'm not busy."

"Don't do that, you're the MPK chairman. Maybe not busy. You are getting busy again."

"It seems I've accidentally become busy." Rajendra chuckled, followed by a small laugh from Ignacia.

...*****...

At home, Ignacia's family still hasn't returned. Maybe the afternoon is meant to be late afternoon. Not the afternoon that comes after noon. The atmosphere of the house is very quiet, calm, and cold is a favorite of Ignacia. An atmosphere that can make the world look more real.

"It feels different to your house?" Ignacia said when she found Rajendra staring around her living room several times, "it's colder than your warm house. People here go out more often and are divided in two than your house."

"Your parents both work, Ignacia. Of course it will be split in two. At home there's only you and your three sisters in the end." Rajendra quits his activities, moving on to Ignacia who is standing next to the single sofa.

"In this kind of atmosphere, you usually go to your novel world."

"It's like you know how I do when I read a novel." Ignacia takes a step towards her room, but before entering she asks Rajendra to sit down and wait for her for a while. He just had to put down the things he was carrying and pick up something.

Rajendra was left alone for a few seconds. Within seconds, he could see the entire wall in the room near the exit. A picture of Ignacia's family is on one of its walls. Looks like a family very comfortable with togetherness.

"Why? Strange if you put a family photo in the living room?" Ignacia's voice interrupted, holding the stillness floating within the entire house.

Rajendra shook his head, saying what's wrong with displaying family photos. While they are still there, why not?

"But the effect is always strange to me" muttered Ignacia with a small smile at the corner of her lips. "Wait a minute, I'll take something I said earlier. What do you want to drink? Mama made her own syrup yesterday. Wanna try?" Ignacia is in vibrant mode.

Rajendra nodded.

"Then wait a minute."

Rajendra did not want to comply. He got up from his seat and walked slower than Ignacia. Walk following towards the bright kitchen due to the lighting of the large glass on one side. A peaceful garden with a mango tree with several types of flowers is believed to belong to the first lady in this house.

"It just got more alive, didn't it?"

Now Rajendra's view turns to his busy girl with a glass filled with ice cubes and syrup.

"Mama decided to follow the schedule of the father who entered work in the afternoon. They'll be back the next morning, around two in the morning. After all her kids went to school, mama had time to garden."

"really? You've never told me." Rajendra steps towards the glass with a view of the garden, his hands touch the glass as if he can feel the freshness of the air outside.

"I don't think I want to talk about it with anyone. Because all I want is to go home before mom and dad go to work. Because they sometimes wake up before I go to school. Working is exhausting. And I should've tried more."

There was a restrained tone throughout Ignacia's explanation. This is the first time he's discussed his parents' time working with someone he trusts. Rajendra was the first to know that Ignacia always wanted to meet her parents for a while.

"On the weekend you can still meet."

"of course. But mom and dad usually have weekend activities. Take Rafka and Arvin to extracurricular swimming or go to his mother's father's house." Ignacia put a glass of syrup on the table, "drink, Rajendra. Sit down and relax for a while. We've been around long enough."

"Thank you."

Rajendra sat down, drank a few sips. His eyes fell on Ignacia for no reason. It had been a long time since he had seen this long-grained girl busy. It had been a long time since she had seen him turn his back on her like this. Usually he who steps away, does not think of him who walks with heavy steps.

"You know, when Arvin's left hand broke last year, mom and dad had to stay in the hospital for a long time. Only me and my two sisters are home. It feels very quiet and quiet. Even I could hear the sound of my own breathing in the room all day."

"Because of that, finally mama decided to continue to enter the afternoon with dad. In order to pay better attention to Arvin and prevent bad things from happening. I didn't feel alone at the time. I really like it. When I could see my mom and dad who didn't rush off."

"Therefore also I and Athira became closer. We communicate more often than usual. I'm not lonely anymore. Me and Athira used to be busy with exhausting school. We just focus and think about nothing. Until the tragedy of Arvin came and made us pause to think about each other."

Rajendra got up, leaving his glass half left. There was a feeling of guilt in him. He never knew if Ignacia had been feeling lonely lately. And all he did was get busy. Accidentally, Ignacia becomes even more lonely.

"Look," Ignacia turned around, carrying a serving plate with a sweet cake with a brown dominant decoration, "I made a chocolate cake for you. I actually wanted to make it when you were sick, but I wasn't allowed to come. Also sweet cake is not a good remedy for the sick."

Rajendra smiled, "in what order is this?"

"You're gonna have a birthday. I made it early when I could still meet you. We are already in the twelfth grade, I heard you will also recruit new members, you will definitely be very busy. So I'm moving the date forward."

A bright smile was clearly visible on Ignacia's face. This time he really expressed himself well. Coupled with her pretty glowing brown eyes. His mood is really good. His surprise for Rajendra was successful.

"You like her?"

Rajendra did not answer, he took the cake from Ignacia's hands and placed it on the dining table. That would have left Ignacia confused. The water of his face changed, thinking that the surprise he made would not work.

"You don't like sweet cakes? But I chose chocolate because you really like chocolate ice cream."

One step was taken slowly, eroding the distance between the two. This silence is confusing. Rajendra's eyes were glued to both beads of his beloved brown eyes, the corners of his lips raised. He's already made his decision.

One hand of Rajendra leaning against the kitchen table behind Ignacia, the distance of the two became very close. Ignacia was getting nervous. Rajendra's tall body is getting bowed down to get to his face. Ignacia could not move. Both of Rajendra's hands have come to restrain him.

One.

Two.

The lips of the two meet.

Rajendra closed his eyes, doing his act without feeling awkward at all. Though in front of him, the girl who was being cornered due to the action, was holding her heartbeat so as not to fill the silence of the room. Resisting the nervousness that radiates throughout the body.

This man took control, but did not try to open Ignacia's mouth in the slightest. Not long after, a gentle touch on Ignacia's lips slowly moved away. The two looked back, still at a very close distance. Ignacia could feel Rajendra's gentle breath.

"I'm sorry for making you lonely. Forgive me for not always being there for you" Rajendra said. For some reason his voice turned heavy, sounding very different.

"But you still got the cake I made, right?"

Rajendra smiled slightly, not believing that this girl was still thinking about the cake that she would gladly accept. Slowly re-advanced his body, fusing his lips with that of the sweet girl.