Beautiful Monster
Other Busy

Danita put a glass of warm tea next to the head of the girl on the table. His hand was placed under the table, waiting for the girl before him to raise the face that looked very tired earlier. "So.. Did something happen?" Unfortunately, Danita does not like silence.

"I didn't get permission" replied Ignacia. Still in the same position. Her unbound hair dangled around her head. Makes it look kind of creepy because it's already night.

Ignacia happens to meet Danita who just came home from the convenience store while she was throwing recycling garbage. Seeing Ignacia's unpleasant face, Danita took the initiative to invite her to tea in the dorm pantry. The place is on the first floor just like a recycling bin.

"A part-time job?" Danita second guessing.

Ignacia nodded, still in the same position. I think his head is heavy. Especially after her father showed up and said something that made her rather uncomfortable.

"How did they respond when they heard your request? What did your parents say?" Danita took her cup of tea, drank it slowly with her gaze still on her dorm neighbor.

That question left Ignacia sitting. He fixed his sitting position before speaking. "Mama's word will be negotiated with father. But before I could make the call, my dad showed up and my mom told me everything. My father was against my will very hard."

"Dad said if I didn't have to try to make money at the beginning of college because they could finance me until graduation. But I want to find a job not about money. I told them. But they still resisted and said that I just needed to be the best student."

"I didn't say I was going to make money for my living here. I don't underestimate them about finances either. But you talk like that as if I scoffed at them with wanting to find a part-time job. That job is good."

For the first time Danita saw Ignacia speaking at length. This short-haired girl still held a teacup in her hand. He had not even had time to drink his own tea. His movement seemed to falter because of the long story of a friend before him.

"Then you can do another activity, Ignacia. What hobby? It could be your busyness later."

"All I did was read a novel. I stopped buying physical novels after a week in this city. Should I just go back to reading an online novel? But that means I'll hold my phone for longer. It makes my eyes hurt."

"Yes that can too. You don't have to be busy all the time, Ignacia. Or maybe join the writing race because you already have the provision to read many novels. Or do you want to borrow my novel? My house is in a not so far away area, I can have my parents send some of her novels to the dormitory. How's it?"

Then Ignacia will be troublesome. "No, I'll find my own way out. Which doesn't bother someone I know for sure."

His hand would reach for the teacup, but it was suddenly snuffed out. Danita shifted the cup until it approached Ignacia before asking again. "Why do you suddenly want to find a part-time job? I've been with you long enough, and this news is a bit surprising."

Does Ignacia have to be honest? After all Danita must have understood this better than Nesya because she also has a lover.

"Love got a part-time job. He's been making me lonely lately. He often comes in some time, but only very briefly. I want to have a job like her too. Because. I don't want to feel lonely anymore."

The long-haired girl turned her gaze to the tea that was inside her cup. The tone gets slower at the end of the sentence. "He often left me because of the organization at High School. I feel a little Dejavu. He'll be busy and make me feel abandoned again."

Danita put down her tea cup, reached out to pat the friend on the shoulder. "I understand how you feel. But if you don't get permission, you might get in trouble later. You're not going to keep covering up the work you get."

Is correct. Danita could understand.

"You're both adults now. Your lover will probably be able to share his time with you, his college, and his new job. The man is supposed to work, so you don't have to compensate if you don't get permission. I can accompany you if I'm lonely anyway."

"Not so," Ignacia took a short pause, "I'm not trying to compensate. I just wanted to forget that I was waiting for him. We haven't seen each other in a long time. All I expected was news from him."

The girl sipped her tea a little. It was cold because it had been left for so long.

The short-haired girl with a red hairpin in front of Ignacia folded her hands in front of her chest. He knows very well that long distance relationships are not good. Not meeting someone you like is certainly torturous.

"You know, I hear there's going to be a second language moon festival in a little while. What if you join the BEM organization? You can be busy taking care of the show later. Aren't they some kind of OSIS organization? I mean they'd be busy if there were official events on campus."

"Isn't it a little late for that? Registration must be closed. I also can't be too busy with entering such an organization, Tata. I'm not very sociable and always awkward around new people."

"yes too. Then you read the novel online. Let's not wait for your girlfriend until she sends you a message. Can I help you find a good novel?" Danita is eager to help. Ignacia nodded. He said he could find it himself.

...*****...

"I'm confused how to help her." Danita pulled the blanket over her legs. Move the phone to the left ear. "I can see if Ignacia seems disappointed when she knows that her boyfriend is happy to get a job. He was happy, yet did not want to be left."

"Maybe he is often left behind so he can feel very empty if left alone by people he likes. Reportedly the man was a member of the organization."

"How do you think?" Talking about someone isn't something Danita likes. But who else could he discuss. Danita just got to know Ignacia. But it feels very uncomfortable if it doesn't help.

"I don't know him, so I don't know how to solve this problem. The best thing is to pursue his hobby. If not so she can do anything to help her college."

"I also said that. He would read novels online because he was not allowed to buy physical books often. But reading a novel online for too long can make his eyes tired. I don't know much about him either, so I'm confused. What am I supposed to do?"

"Why not make a study group? You're from the literature department. Maybe read a book and talk about it together? What's the term, huh? I forgot."

Oh Danita so remember something. "Surgical book!"

"Looks right. You both like books. So why not just join that club? I'm sure there's a club like that. Your college is the best campus."

Also true. Is it possible that Danita should look for the club and invite Ignacia to join? Otherwise, he could create a study group that included Ignacia. All right, Danita's gonna make her friend forget the waiting times so quickly.

...*****...

"Yes, slightly. After hearing your voice, I got excited. What are you doing in class today, Ignacia? I'm sure you have an interesting story."

"Nothing interesting. I just do the same thing every day. Go to college, have lunch with Nesya or Danita. Call you at night. Oh but today I read a novel online. I can't buy a new novel, so I'm going to go back to reading the novel online like some time she was in High School."

"Don't read too long, your eyes can get tired. Have you eaten, Ignacia? You sound weak."

Ignacia smiled wryly, "of course I've eaten. It's almost time to go to bed. You didn't miss a meal, Rajendra? You're doing a lot of activity."

"I eat more and more because I work for a while, haha. Ignacia, it's your birthday soon. What do you want for a birthday present?" The girl was a little surprised to get the question. Is her birth month coming again? It feels faster.

"I can get my own reward, Rajendra. Thanks for your attention."

"But I want to give you something. I'll try to get it for you."

"If I want you to come, how? I want you to be my birthday present."

Rajendra did not answer. The pause made Ignacia chuckle a little. Rajendra would not be able to give such a gift to him. Ignacia wins. Successfully made the man who wanted to know the gift Ignacia wanted to keep silent. Can't answer.

"I'm kidding, Rajendra. You take it seriously? I know our position now. So how could I possibly ask for such a thing. I can take care of my own birthday, Rajendra. Don't think about it too much."

Ignacia stared at the ceiling. Enough lighting made him remember the sky of his own room. Room with many books on a shelf. Isn't this long night perfect when coupled with a new book?

"Ignacia, isn't there anything else you want as a birthday present? I want to meet you too. Really want to. But you know for yourself now how. We're too far away."

Rajendra still insists on the prize? But why should it be another gift if there's one thing Ignacia wants so badly? But yeah, that's it.

"Let's see, I don't really think about gifts. Can I tell you what I want after getting the idea? My birthday isn't so close anyway."

...*****...

It's lunch time. Rajendra's friend's family-owned restaurant will be getting crowded. Before lunch, there were many visitors. Especially if everyone's stomach has to be replenished after the activity from morning.

There are two floors, and both are full of visitors. Most are small families and large families because the theme of the restaurant is also for the family. But not infrequently young couples also come to enjoy the warm atmosphere.

"Rajendra, this is table nine." A cook hurriedly placed the order on the table. Letting his new co-worker deliver food to the table he says he's on.

The rush is given the task of doing its work so that the visitors do not wait too long. He himself will also be upset if the food that has been ordered since has not come. Rajendra carefully placed the order on the table, giving a smile so that the visitors do not feel upset.

"Good fun" he said before returning to the kitchen to deliver his next order.

"Rajendra, this is table one. After dropping off, do not forget to clean the empty table. People are still coming in an hour."

Rajendra nodded obediently. Do everything without complaining and be as friendly as possible. Rajendra will not complain until what he aspires to be realized. Smiles are always burning when Rajendra remembers his wishes in the future even though fatigue often pervades him. The important thing is that this job will help him later.

"You smile silently again," someone surprised Rajendra. A friend who helped him get a job like now. He takes his place next to Rajendra, giving his friend a canned drink. He could see if Rajendra was still smiling faintly.

"What did you think of smiling like that? This backyard can be dangerous if your mind is empty and out of focus, Rajendra. I don't accept the 'it's okay' answer you used to tell me. Is this about your big plans for the future? Or about your boyfriend? You miss her?"

His friend spoke at length. Rajendra has not answered. Letting silence after his friend's speech interspersed with his activities open the canned drink he got. Sipped the drink a little then opened the voice. His eyes looked brightly towards the dark night sky without stars.

"What do you think makes me smile like you said? You must know the answer. So why keep asking as if you don't know?"

His friend turned his head, "because you never said it directly so I could understand. Shouldn't the person who has a boyfriend be good at explaining things? But as I see it, you've been hiding something a few times."

"Why should I share it with you?" Rajendra. Tighten the apron he used before grabbing the canned drink he had placed on the side. "I'd better get this job done so I can go home."

"To call your lover? Isn't it too late? After this we have to prepare the decorations for tomorrow's event. Have you told your girlfriend you're gonna be busy?"

This friend of his knows a lot because he also has a lover. He wanted to make sure his friend's relationship went as smoothly as he had done all along. He knows very well if a woman does not like to feel ignored by her partner. Especially if they can't meet because of the distance.

"I'll tell you when I get home. He seems to have slept. I'll send you a message when he wakes up tomorrow."

His friend got up, patted Rajendra on the shoulder slowly, "hey you shouldn't underestimate the message. Who knows, your girlfriend is waiting. Maybe he's doing his job and waiting for your message. I thought you guys dated for over four years. This is not how we run a relationship."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't make your lover lonely just because you have other activities. Send a message when you can, not if you have time. It's gonna be different."