Beautiful Monster
About the Book

"Already, Ignacia. Don't cry over that useless man. He'll regret leaving you." As hard as Utari tried to calm her friend, still the girl could not control the tears that had soaked her cheeks since.

What happened to Ignacia an hour ago changed her whole mood. The lover came earlier, carrying a letter with a smile as if deliberately coming to meet. And the rich one he spoke of was completely inversely proportional.

"I want our relationship to stop here."

Ignacia's eyes were almost perfectly rounded. His heart that was blossoming with butterflies flying inside his stomach instantly turned into a rainstorm. How could the man decide so easily? Even with a smile that seemed happy.

"It looks like he's just curious about you, Ignacia. And after her curiosity was gone, she left you. Never mind, she doesn't mean anything anymore now" Aruna chimed in. Beside her was Dianti who was just staring but vaguely nodded.

"I'm not sad to be left like that" Ignacia clarified, "but I'm sorry for liking a man like him. We just met and the man dumped me like shit."

Utari got rid of the hairdo that covered Ignacia's wet face. Slowly the crying stopped. He was trying to be a good boyfriend, and it hasn't been going on for long. Ignacia doesn't believe what I'm doing.

The girl rubbed her wet face violently, drank a few sips of water and looked at her friends. "What's wrong with me? I didn't do anything to make him hate me either."

"Maybe he felt unworthy and finally left," Rananta replied with his head propped up with his hands, "you can look for a better person than that dirty man. What do you like about him anyway?"

Rananta looks fed up because his best friend is crying over someone who should not be crying. "Find someone who is as good as you are and smarter than your ex" he said.

"Just forget about your heartbreak and go with us to the cafeteria. You need energy after exercise." Widia stroked her stomach which felt hollow. Then getting a light blow on his shoulder from Hanasta. Reminds her that her friend has a bad time.

"Yes, let's go to the cafeteria," Ignacia broke up and then got up ahead of the class. Leaving his nine friends still in a group to calm him down.

"I think he is being shaken," muttered Utari to the Maharani who was then taken by his friend.

"We should just follow him before the bell rings," Kemala asked while holding Indri. He did not want to miss the opportunity to enjoy a glass of cold juice while eating a peek in the cafeteria before more and more people.

At home, Ignacia went straight into her room without saying anything to Athira who just happened to arrive home with a friend. He looked at his brother like he was crying. It was not usual for Athira to see her brother in such a state.

The door to the brother's room by the younger one. Called several times to ask, "big brother why?". But did not get a chance until Athira decided to turn the doorknob.

Ignacia was on her bedside with a cell phone on her foot. His sister was sitting there like she had just lost something precious. Slowly Athira approached, sitting beside her brother. "Have you had a bad day? You can tell me."

"I've just been decided" muttered Ignacia. He now feels more relaxed than ever. "I don't know what I'm doing until he hates me, but I hope it's not because I'm so considerate of him."

Ignacia pulled her legs, hugged her knees then drowned her face between piles of hands. Her memory goes back to a time when Ignacia was so happy to have someone who liked her more than a friend. Her happiness is infinite.

Perhaps his eyes were blinded for a moment with a flowery feeling, not even he saw the slightest discomfort in the ex. But what has he done? Ignacia replied to her message quickly, greeting and smiling every time she accidentally met.

There seems to be something wrong with the man, Ignacia thought.

"Sister crying because of that man? He's not even cool and not handsome. And also big brother can definitely get a much better man than him." Athira was upset to see her brother feeling sad. She shouldn't have said anything bad about her ex-sister.

"Are men that easy to throw away women?" Ignacia raised half her face, looking at her sister, "was she so big-headed because I received her in one try? I think I've been acting stupid."

"Why did you like him first?"

"Because he helped me a lot to adjust to the afternoon class. He made me braver and I didn't want to talk about it. Forget it." Ignacia hid her face again. Breathing long, heavy breaths that are hard to believe.

"Sister has just entered Junior High but already wants to date. Never mind, rather than just grieving because the man sucks, it's better for brother to accompany me to make food. Mama didn't cook and we were asked to make something to eat."

"You change your clothes first and wait in the kitchen. I'll clean up and see you."

Athira said, go out her sister's room and then close the door slowly. As soon as Athira, Ignacia got up to do what she said to her sister. Before entering the bathroom, he saw his own reflection from the mirror.

"She's not that amazing, but she's helping me to be braver in a place that scares me" Ignacia murmured while holding back tears. After all, this man who had just abandoned her in an unfair manner had once been something of the beginning.

...*****...

Ignacia cut the vegetables limply. Her energy ran out from crying in the empty hours of school. His behavior is too childish for a child his age. But who can control the feeling of sadness mixed with unreasonable anger?

"Why do you think I'm decided?" Ignacia asked in a soft voice, "is it because I'm too predictable? My friend told me that the man was just curious about me and left after being satisfied."

"Oh my sister, I've never been stuck in a romantic relationship. Looks like the man has already made the big brother blind. Even though his attitude was kind and romantic, big brother shouldn't waste his feelings for someone like him. Big brother will definitely meet a better person later."

The stove was lit by the younger one. He put in the cooking oil and waited for it to heat up. "Sister don't have to think about it anymore. It's already passed. But if you want to make your heart relieved, why not just meet with Kak Bahri?"

Ignacia passed the vegetables in her hand to her sister without saying anything. I went out of the kitchen to get my phone in my room. Athira's advice sounds good. This friend of his could definitely help him since he had an ex before.

And Bahri also warns Ignacia to be careful while dating her ex.

"What can an ex-sister do to a sister like this be so sad?" athira gumam. His hands prepared to wash the vegetables brought without protest.

...*****...

It just so happened that Bahri was at his house and was not doing anything. His phone is still in charging mode, so he just splits himself next to his new half-charged phone. There was really nothing to do but stare at the ceiling with slowly closed eyes.

The small voice from his phone interrupted. Makes Bahri's curiosity come. Because he is not waiting for any pesana. And what he heard was the sound of a short message notification.

The New Message from Ignacia

| Hey I need advice

| Can meet tonight?

Bahri stared lazily. Later he replied to his friend's message. But come to think of it, why did Ignacia ask him to meet? This was the first time the girl had asked someone to meet suddenly. Luckily, Bahri also wants to leave the house to play in the park.

The next night they met. Ignacia came with a matted face that could be directly guessed by the male friend. Bahri is right that this man who dated his friend is not a good person. From his face alone it looks like a criminal.

"So how's the story?" Tanya Bahri started. Don't forget to shift the cold drink he bought for Ignacia.

The girl started to tell stories. A truly shameful sad story. Ignacia had no choice but to tell and second-guess the meaning of her ex. "He made me feel so bad. Why did he break me off with that smile? I'm sick of remembering that."

"Maybe that's what we call curious, Ignacia. Never mind, he's not a good person in the end. Just forget it and find something that can make you forget it." Bahri spoke in a relaxed tone. Glancing at Ignacia was secretly afraid of mispronouncing.

"What do you think I can do? I'm not good at anything." The girl's hand slowly grabbed a drink from Bahri. Open it with slow but sure motion.

"Yes, do something you don't have to do. Try playing anonymous messages. Ask someone about their hobbies that might inspire you. Or find unsupervised therapy you can do yourself."

Ignacia looked over with a mouth that was about to drink her cold drink. Sounds like what Bahri said is true. Then he asked what application Bahri meant. He even helped Ignacia to download it.

"Don't tell a stranger your real name. Don't say anything personal. Just talk about what you want to ask. It may not be easy to find the right person, but I think it will work."

"Where do you know this app?" Ignacia asked. His eyes stared at the app on his phone screen.

"My friend. I'll help you set up an account. Remember what I told you just now."

Ignacia did not immediately try what Bahri said. He wants to do it tonight. Meeting new people was not easy for Ignacia. The soul of the cultivator is so strong and hard to penetrate.

This was the reason why Ignacia liked her ex back then. The man keeps him in the comfort zone despite having to be in a much different place.

"Contact me if you want to use this app. Phone or whatever is up to you. I'll make sure you're okay as long as it's what you want to do to distract." Ignacia smiled slightly, what a concern this friend of hers.

"What if I don't find what I'm looking for after talking to a lot of people?"

"Then I'll find it for you later. Don'worry. I've been an expert in diversion if it's about the heart like this."

...*****...

Athira knocked on her sister's bedroom door. Rotate the door knob after getting permission from the inside. He saw his brother sitting staring at the mobile phone at his study table. There was nothing the girl did but sit still. Athira's arrival must have disrupted her brother's focus.

"I want to borrow some scissors, brother."

"Yes, give it back as soon as it's done."

"What did Brother do?" Athira asked before leaving, "is sister waiting for someone's message? Brother still calling the ex-sister?"

Ignacia nodded without answering. Staring at his sister as the code for the younger one somewhat left him alone. Ignacia had to muster up a lot of courage to use this app. It's been over an hour since Ignacia tried to focus, but she always felt like a failure.

...Peachy...

^^^ I don't think I can do this |^^^

^^^ Can you find it for me? |^^^

^^^Something that busies me |^^^

| You are indeed lousy

| Then try reading a book or something

| Start of the light-weight genre only

| Find his recommendations on the internet

^^^Yes no need to reproach me like that |^^^

^^^You are a male base not understanding |^^^

^^^While I just broke my heart |^^

| If I don't care about you

| Why are you asking me?

^^^Since you have known me for a long time |^^^

Ignacia ignored the message coming from Bahri afterwards. Look for a book like the one recommended by the man. "Maybe a book can relieve stress" murmured the girl while typing something in an online search.

Reading a book can help take your mind off and keep you busy in an interesting way. While reading and continuing to read, the mind tends to travel to other realms that help you become more relaxed.

Ignacia read the available articles. Even unconsciously he had now read more than three articles just to find out the efficacy of the book reading technique. In one article, something caught his attention.

Bibliotherapy or bibliotherapy is a therapy that is done by reading a book. This therapy can help as well as improve a person's mental health condition.

To be honest Ignacia did not feel herself having any psychiatric problems or anything. But if a pat like this could help improve his post-loss health condition, maybe he could give it a try. Moreover, Ignacia could not constantly try to forget her ex alone.

"Reading a book isn't hard, is it?"

Seen another article. There was a review of a first book signing event by a young female author. Ignacia saw the latest book cover that made the show run at a glance. Curiosity arises from the title.

"looks interesting. Should I just buy this book? The genre is not so complicated either."