Beautiful Monster
Thank You

"Therefore I feel familiar."

Rajendra looked at his lover for a moment. Started to remember with the man who made him wonder at that time. Ignacia looked happy and sad at the same time. Rajendra just cleared his throat in response. Not very interested in discussing the men there.

"Have you seen him? You guys go together?" Nesya asked. Looks like something's been wrong.

"Huh?" Ignacia pretended not to hear and continued another chat with Rajendra so as not to question Nesya. Although many people knew about his second home date, Ignacia did not know whether Nesya knew either. He felt like a bad friend for not explaining something to Nesya.

"Nesya, I seem to be interested in that man. What if we get close? Please." Nesya's friend linked her hands, staring hard at Nesya to be filled with her wishes. Nesya would not want to accompany. It's a pity if his friend goes alone.

"I'm going to go. Call me if there's a problem," Nesya told me then to go away to follow her friend.

"I think I'm talking wrong, Rajendra." Ignacia can now lean her head against Rajendra's shoulder. His tense feeling earlier must have made Nesya suspicious. "Would I tell Nesya about our date?"

"That'll make your relationship tenuous. Nesya will definitely feel lied to."

"Then there's no need?" Ignacia saw Rajendra nodding, "yes well, I will keep it hidden. But does he know if I don't discuss it out of fear that he's uncomfortable? My feelings confused me."

"You don't have to say what makes you uncomfortable, Ignacia. Keep it. But if Nesya finds out someday, maybe Nesya will understand."

"Is that so? I hope you're right." Ignacia turned her gaze from on the stage. There was a displeased face of Rajendra who had not known since when. "Why do you look so serious? What are you watching?"

"Nothing" Rajendra replied seriously.

...*****...

"You want a snack?" Rajendra asked, "all of us get drinks there. There was a cold drink when I saw it."

"You went around before you found me?"

"of course. I want to know everything so I can make you feel comfortable. I'll make sure everything's under control because you're coming."

Ignacia did not refuse. Just standing there is boring. There is no harm in going for a while to grab the snacks available. I don't know who made it, but it tastes good. It's not just sweet food there. Deep-fried wet snacks and so on are also present.

"Wait here for a second, I'll get you a drink there."

Ignacia nodded obediently. Stand near the Tanggulu snack, a fruit snack given a layer of clear sweets. The taste is still, mixed with the original taste of the fruit adds to the sensation. Ignacia took Tanggulu strawberries and some other berries there. Since it was delicious, Ignacia took some.

Rajendra will probably be back a little longer. Her male friends happened to also grab a drink and invite her over for a chat. They chatted after closing the freezer well. From her place, Ignacia could see the wide smile of her lover while joking with her friends. Looks fun.

"Hey," someone patted Ignacia on the shoulder. The surprised one did not feel that way, just turned his head and smiled. "It looks like you guys had a nice night. How's it feel to date Rajendra here? I've seen you guys stick together a few times."

"Yes that's it. You're going home, Nesya?"

"After the show ends. I don't think it's long. I came back first. Enjoy your company." Nesya returns to her friend, leaving Ignacia alone.

"Yes, see you." Rajendra parted ways with his friends, carrying two bottles of cold drink. "Sorry to keep you waiting. This is for you." A bottle of drink is offered to Ignacia.

"Thank you, Rajendra." The cold drink was well received by the girl.

The two were still there, chatting while eating Tanggulu. Ignacia recommended it. Just whimper for Rajendra to eat it. Sugar makes him excited. Maybe his girlfriend can feel the same energy later.

"Rajendra," Ignacia called out. His nose smelled something strange. Never had he ever smelled this very painful smell to his nose. "What is this?" She asked.

"Don't you?" Rajendra only realized it after Ignacia asked. Rajendra spread his gaze around. Look for the source of the smell he smells. This man clearly knew what this smell was. And maybe the cause could make a fuss.

Two people walked closer. They carried bottles of drinks filled with clear liquid on their hands. Rajendra has never seen them. Maybe someone from a class that was far from his class. Their attitude made Rajendra even more suspicious. They walked as if they were a little unconscious.

"Let's go," Rajendra asked while pulling Ignacia's arm without explaining anything. The girl who will be taken away when the date is almost up is certainly surprised. He was forced to leave before he could take another Tanggulu due to Rajendra's coercion.

"Why should we go? And why do you look so worried? Is something going on?" Ignacia could not stand still when her hand was still down by Rajendra. Rebelling was of no benefit to Ignacia. He can't make Rajendra let go.

"At least answer my question, Rajendra," irritated Ignacia.

"Ignacia!" Anxious Rajendra finally exploded as well. As much as possible he controlled his tone of speech. "I just want to keep you safe. There are suspicious strangers. So I want to take you away from them."

"Who?" Ignacia's frustration is gone. Replacing with the worry that can be felt from Rajendra. "You can explain it to me. You look suspicious, scaring me."

Rajendra shrugs his girlfriend's shoulder, "I'm sorry. I couldn't say it just now because I was worried that you would get hurt if you didn't leave quickly." He took the girl to a place he thought was safe. I hope the two men will not come near them again.

Ignacia doesn't mind if her lover does as much skinship as she does today. But if it's this often, is it safe for his heart? Indeed, he has started to control his feelings a lot when he was near Rajendra lately. His heart felt tingled once in a while.

Ignacia can feel if Rajendra's hand that embraces her tighter. His worry can be seen. Ignacia smiled happily at what her lover was doing. There is a sense of pride within.

"This man is the best," inwardly.

...*****...

"Wait here for a minute."

Ignacia nodded, looking at Rajendra's back which was moving away towards someone by the side of the hall. He was left briefly on a side not far from where Rajendra approached someone who looked like a committee. Like there's something important Rajendra wants to say.

The man looked serious.

"Ignacia, why alone?" Someone's voice shocked Ignacia. Apparently it came from Widia and Hanasta. They brought Tanggulu too. "Where's Rajendra?" Widia asked again. His eyes did not find his best friend's lover.

"Oh yes it is. Why were you left here? Is there a problem? He was the Chairman of MPK. The one talking to him is the new MPK chairman, right?" Hanasta looked at her best friend's loverit, "it looks like something serious."

"I think so."

"Ignacia, don't you see any handsome men around here? I think I want to find a soul mate now." Widia looked around. Prove what he was talking about.

Hanasta reflexively turned to the one who had just spoken. "Aren't you too late? You probably won't see her again when you get to college. Long distance relationship is not a good choice for new dating." Hanasta knows a lot.

"Yes whatever. Then I'll just look for a handsome guy tonight. You found one, Ignacia?"

Ignacia nodded, pointing in a direction that made Hanasta and Widia a bit upset. But Ignacia was certainly innocent. What Widia wants to know is a handsome man, right? Rajendra is also handsome to Ignacia. He pointed to his own lover. But certainly not a handsome man for Widia.

"Well, someone who is in love is like this. Hanasta, let's find another handsome guy." Take Widia somewhere.

Rajendra was done, walking back towards his lover. He missed Widia and Hanasta's whereabouts earlier. "I'm sorry I left you a little long ago. You were talking to someone? Looks like someone just left."

"That was Widia and Hanasta. They're my best friends."

"Oh so. Sorry for keeping you waiting. You haven't even had a drink. Can I open the drink?"

"No, thank you. I can open it myself." Ignacia turned the lid of the drink bottle with a single try. Gulp it a little and close it again. "What are you talking about with the new MPK chairman? Are you still in charge of this show or something?"

Rajendra. He said he was just saying something that the organizers had to deal with. Ignacia doesn't really understand. Want to ask but maybe Rajendra doesn't want to explain. It is seen from how the man responded.

...*****...

The committee didn't run out of ideas in making tonight all the more fun for everyone. They made a kind of competition for the students to have a beautiful voice to sing on stage. The winner will get a snack gift that has been provided backstage. Suddenly, but still exciting.

Ignacia sees Widia wanting to come along, but Hanasta holds her back so as not to damage the ears of the people who are here. Hanasta is afraid that Widia will make her friends embarrassed. Even so, with determination, Widia managed to get on stage after several participants completed her activities.

"Hello, my name is Widia. I'll sing a song for you all." The boy was confident. The shame she usually takes is gone. Widia won't meet these people anymore. Why should I be ashamed?

When the intro was played, Rananta was already preparing with his camera. He wants to make a documentary, he said. Ignacia met him as she approached the stage. The goal is to provide support for Widia.

The friends are excited except for Hanasta and Indri whom they are ashamed of Widia's behavior. His voice was not bad, but his soul was rather unsightly to them. Some people support Widia. His classmates especially.

Rajendra sees Ignacia joining forces with friends to support Widia until the song is finished playing. There was a smile on his face. Ignacia wouldn't normally be like this. His name is also a teenager. There must be a side that he was trying to hide from people.

"Have you?" Rajendra opens Ignacia's drink after Widia takes the stage. He offered it to his owner while smiling broadly. "You need to recharge."

"Haha thank you. I hope Widia wins tonight."

...*****...

The peak event finally arrived. The committee distributed one candle and a red rose to each student and his invited guests. Photos with roses are done with lights that light up while with candles, the lights will be extinguished. The candles will give the impression that the people in the photo are fireflies.

Rajendra shrugged his girlfriend's shoulders amid the crowd. When a man approaches, Rajendra swiftly moves Ignacia to a safer position. Far from men. It's better so that no one messes with hers.

His?

Winner announcement is made after a photo session. Ignacia did not take the stage, but she felt troubled by Widia's results. He took Rajendra's hand in dismay. Makes the one in the gang confused.

"At least Widia can get the third champion or the champion of hope right?" Mumbled.

"Oh there's this smell again." Ignacia turned to Rajendra, "this is the smell I smelled when we were at the snack place."

Rajendra relinquishes his grasp on Ignacia, turns to embrace in the girl and makes her come closer. "Don't stay away from me." Ignacia looked at her lover with a gaze that was hard to explain.

"What is this actually stinking?"

"Loud drink" Rajendra replied in a small voice.

No one should hear it because it might make tonight a mess. Let only the two also the committee know about the existence of b*r*nd*l in the hall. Ignacia doesn't want to break away from Rajendra like this. People who are unconscious can make a fuss.

The smell is getting closer. Ignacia was fed up with the smell. What Rajendra did next was to keep Ignacia away from those people. Making sure your girlfriend stays safe is not easy.

"If you smell that again, just hold it. I'll take you away quietly and stay away from them. And if you see the person, quickly ignore them. Do not make eye contact. They're dangerous."

If it's very dangerous, shouldn't the organizers have to quickly take them away? Ignacia could not calm down during the event if it still smelled this pungent odor. Even ordinary people can kiss him.

Ignacia managed to survive until the event ended. His hand was clutching the tip of Rajendra's clothes. Just in case Rajendra releases his embrace later. Anyone can take Rajendra's attention like those male friends were when taking the drink earlier.

"I'll take you home soon."

Rajendra had not yet let go of his hand when he spoke. Inviting Ignacia to pull over so as not to rush after taking a picture. Ignacia can stay in this position longer. Why did Rajendra have to rush her home?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Rajendra just realized it. The girl continued to look at him even though the two were walking over earlier. "Is there anything you want to say?" Rajendra put his ears closer to the girl. So Ignacia wouldn't scream.

The cup!

Ignacia's getting brave now. A brief peek at Rajendra's cheek and instantly averted his gaze. Rajendra chuckled softly, not believing what he just got. His Ignacia became brave now.

"So, you're gonna take me home, right?"