Beautiful Monster
Video Call

The restaurant became crowded due to a large family event. There was a big official in the famous office who rented this famous restaurant for his big family event which was getting bigger because of the engagement of the grandson who was 26 years old.

The new employees can rest after entertaining all the guests with dessert. Even so, all employees are expected to remain ready if they have to be called at any time. All of his employees were in the kitchen, sitting around and drinking cold drinks.

But minus Rajendra.

This man was asked to help the restaurant owner to do something in the pantry. He said Rajenda can help because he has a lover and the two have been together long enough. Though there are seniors who are ready to help for this business, but the owner only needs Rajendra.

"I feel bad for the seniors for taking over such an important task" Rajendra whispered to the restaurant owner, the father of his boarding-mate. "When they are more experienced and know what to do."

"Don't do that. If you feel inexperienced, then it's time to enrich your abilities. We just need to decorate it with cream and..it's done."

The restaurant owner put the cream with a sweet taste to the side of the cake. Put the final decoration to mark which pieces of cake will be used as a surprise by the owner of the event on the second floor. His smile was sparkling because he managed to make the best pieces of cake with the help of the chef earlier.

"Rajendra, thank you for helping. I asked me to help me so you could infiltrate among the guests and meet someone. Tell him which piece of cake has his little gift."

"Because I just worked here?"

"Of course," the older one folded his sleeves, "a new kid like you could also easily slip in and give out a code like I wanted right? Other workers have already done this when asked to hide gifts. So I hope you enjoy it, Rajendra."

The last cake was taken out of the kitchen. Assisted by several employees to spread it to places where the cake should be. The owner of the show really made it look like a fun coincidence.

Rajendra did his job as requested. Sneaking and whispering but in a style he had trained with several seniors. "The present is on the cake next to my right hand." Rajendra then left.

The officer was pulled back. They will watch the next event, the discovery of his small gift from the window that connects between the kitchen and the place where the event takes place. The food was delivered by the waiters.

"Rajendra, don't want to see the show?" call one of the seniors, "you will definitely like it. Hey, this can also be used to give your lover a gift."

Rajendra walked over without a sound. He was actually going to contact someone, but his senior remark attracted him. He brought a cell phone and put it in his pocket. He will do his intention later after the long-awaited event is over.

...*****...

"You sure it's okay? You look pale. What time did you sleep until you looked so exhausted?" Danita continued to watch Ignacia's face as she walked. This friend of his insisted on returning to the dormitory because he had to pick up something important.

"I'll meet you in the next class" said Ignacia then immediately ran towards the dormitory building. He must be quick or will miss class. His words earlier even as if nothing even though Danita who heard it just became silent without a sound.

"He's getting very cold" whispered Danita.

"My moon is out of control again" Ignacia's mind.

Arriving at the room, Ignacia headed straight towards her bed. Look on the side of the mattress to look for something very important. Ignacia foolishly forgot this thing so that the whole class could not focus. It's the only thing that can make him feel okay.

"Why did I let go last night?" riled Ignacia while continuing to search. His hands moved very quickly to move the pillow and blanket that had been folded neatly. "Why am I so careless?"

"Thank you, Ignacia. I'll see it if I miss you."

Ignacia's been looking for a while. But why has the thing in the way not met yet? Should Ignacia go back to college and forget her favorite things for a while? But it connects him and Rajendra.

"I should have taken good care of him."

...*****...

Rajendra kept his smile while stepping out of the kitchen. He took his place in the backyard that was covered by the afternoon sky. Without him realizing it would be dark and the restaurant could be closed as soon as the family event inside was over. Now it's time to take a break.

The tall man pulled his phone out of his apron pocket, typed something and opened someone's roomchat. His heart was happy and flowery because it saw the happy events of the family in the restaurant.

"Do I have to call her?" Rajendra Beo.

Immediately Rajendra's finger pressed the phone-shaped icon on the top side of the roomchat. There was no need to wait long until his call was picked up by someone on the other end. Rajendra greeted him happily, "hi, how was your day, Ignacia?"

"Sorry for calling now? Is everything okay there? Oh yeah, you're not busy, are you? I'd like to steal your time for a minute." Rajendra could not help but smile so happy he could chat with his lover.

"I'm not very good. I don't mind if you take all my time. How's you?"

Rajendra realizes something is wrong with her female voice. "What's wrong? Something bad happened?"

"No, I'm just tired."

"You're gonna need a break. By the way thank you for the gift you gave that day, Ignacia. I always remember you because of your gift."

"I'm glad you still have it."

"of course. Everything you give is precious. I might just lose it. Ignacia, your birthday is coming up. Don't you have anything for your special day?"

"I haven't thought about it. The semester exam is coming. I'm busy thinking about the preparation rather than the gift for me."

Rajendra looked at his shoes, "you must be worried. You can call me anytime if you have any gift you want. I don't want to make you feel empty because I don't give you much attention."

"Messages and phone calls from you are my gift every time. No need to think, Rajendra. I'm an adult anyway, I'm not a high school boy anymore."

"The edge remains. I want to give you something on a day that matters to you."

"Rajendra," call someone to interrupt, "the show will be over soon. We're asked to gather in the kitchen."

The man kept the phone away from his ear, talking to the one who called him. "What's up, senior?"

"Ignacia, I need to get back. We'll talk later, okay? Oh yeah before that, do you have any errands later tonight? Tonight I will do a not so difficult task. What if we make a video call while doing chores?"

Rajendra remembered the day that he and Ignacia were going to study. Rajendra was so nervous that his hand shook from Ignacia's look at him. It has been years together but there is a sense of awkwardness in Rajendra if it is stared so intensely so.

"Yes, I have to do something tonight. Let's do what you say. Just tell me what time it is."

"I'll send you a message later. See you soon." Rajendra turns off the call, saves his phone and hastily goes after his senior.

...*****...

On top of the bed, Ignacia still positioned her phone near her ear when she knew the call was over. His hand was clutching his phone weakly while the other hand was grasping at something. His gaze was staring at the slightly open window of the room.

"What a miracle did I get. You came after I picked up the item that made you remember me" muttered Ignacia. Slowly her hands away from her head, placed her cell phone on the bed.

"What's wrong with me? Being left behind for a while has driven me crazy. Should I read a book like before? A physical book I can hold again."

...*****...

"Yes, I've wrapped a box full of books. Brother seems like it will be hard to bring him back after big brother's lecture is over. You know, our family boys can grow up fast in four years. Our car will be full if brother really wants me to deliver these boxes."

Athira clamped the phone with her shoulder so that she could still talk to her sister while putting the books taken from the closet according to the list given by her brother. Even Ignacia remembered all the books she had read in one full shelf.

"I'm amazed big brother remembers all the titles of his book," Athira praised with a smile. Still with his activities move the last book.

"Thank you for your help, Athira."

"Either. But why do you want your sister's book finished reading? Why don't you just read an online novel if you want to save?"

"feels different. I'd rather have the thrill of opening a book than scrolling through a phone screen."

"It is so it seems." Athira sat in front of the bookshelf, looking at her brother's room which had been empty for the past few weeks. Her memories then returned to something that might make her brother excited again in that distant city.

"I'll send something to brother too. I'll put it in another box."

"What's that?" ask brother.

"Sister don't need to know. By the way I want to ask you something. Is my sister feeling uncomfortable again? I thought you could get out of these books." Athira felt bad after asking. He only found the silence of the brother who now had no idea what he was doing.

...*****...

Ignacia stared at the reflection of herself in the mirror. Trying to make a smile that is able to make her lover back excited. Tonight his emotions were unstable for no reason. Ignacia had to make a mask to please the man.

Maybe only tonight the two can chat via video call while doing their respective activities. Ignacia won't let her men down. Even though it meant that he had to hide a lot of things. All the bad things he felt were not because of Rajendra. So there's no reason for Ignacia to show it.

Rajendra will start a little late because he just got home from the restaurant. So he asked Ignacia to start first and the man would call as soon as he was ready. Even just making a video call made Ignacia nervous. He hadn't seen his girlfriend in a long time.

In the middle of studying for the exam, Ignacia was like hearing a soft knock from her bedroom door. Despite his doubts, Ignacia still rose to see who had come. As soon as the door opened, someone outside immediately thrust something at him.

"I brought you dinner" said one man. Neighbor next to his room. "I see you moody all day. I want to make you feel better with good food. You know, good food is a source of happiness. The cure of all liver diseases."

Danita's smile distracts Ignacia from how she feels. The smile even rubbed off on him. Slowly Ignacia took over the food she was offering, "thank you for your concern, Ta. I think all I need is good food."

"Is that what I'm saying?" proud of the short-haired girl, "then eat and rest. If there's anything you want to talk about, you can meet me. The exam is coming soon. Don't focus so much that you forget what's around you, okay?"

Ignacia nodded, once again thanking him. Danita was happy her efforts were successful to make her neighbors smile. At least for tonight Danita won't see her neighbors feeling so bad.

"Then I'll go to my room. See you, Ignacia." The girl breezed away, waved her hand then stopped in front of her own bedroom door.

Just now Ignacia was sitting down, and a video call came into her phone. She swiped the green button on the screen. Someone was already waiting with a bright smile at the end of the call. It seemed that Ignacia had not seen this face for a long time. The face that made her so happy.

"Hello, how are you? I miss you."

"I'm doing fine. I missed you too. Rajendra, look what my dorm neighbor brought." Ignacia lifted the package that Danita had given her earlier. His smile was wide and Rajendra was smiling.

"You guys seem to get along well. Ignacia, I have something to tell you." The water on his phone screen looked a little serious.

"Whatis that? Just say it."

"Sorry it makes you feel lonely." The man's eyes looked sincere. "I heard from Athira if you want some books from home. I hear it's also in delivery now."

"What does a book have to do with loneliness? You are just there. I want some of my books because I'm tired of reading online."

"But you read a lot of books when you're lonely. When I leave you a lot with my activities, you do read a lot of books."

"It's not that I'm lonely," Ignacia chuckled, "you know that I really like all my books. I haven't read it back in a long time because I'm here. So I kind of miss all the main characters."

"Are you sure you're not lying?"

"Not so sure, but..." Ignacia turned her eyes, "I also have no reason to lie."

"Ignacia, is there something you can't tell me about this relationship? Why do you feel you need all those books?"