Beautiful Monster
Hot Cold
No one starts a conversation except Danita. He brings a lot of chatter that can melt the atmosphere helped by Bahri beside him. But instead of the warmer atmosphere, Ignacia actually felt increasingly afraid to respond.
Several times he found Bahri glancing towards the middle rearview mirror to send out a code of request for help as Rajendra sat behind him. Also several times Ignacia saw Rajendra replying to the request for help with a colder aura. From the motion Bahri already seen if he wants to get out of the car immediately.
"So you guys met when it came to the book signing event? How can the world be so narrow? Haha," Bahri tried to make it look normal. But it seemed like his last sentence was referring to himself who could get caught up in this bad situation.
"Let's know, my world has never been as narrow as Ignacia's. He could even still meet his best friend who used to be a neighbor before moving on." Ignacia was convinced that what she was discussing was Nesya. After meeting Bahri, Ignacia's world becomes increasingly narrow.
"I wonder why the world has become so narrow with each passing day" Rajendra exclaimed without looking at anyone in the car. To cover up the water, Rajendra had to stare in the other direction to calm down.
The conversation about the narrowness of the world continues without Ignacia coming into it. He leaned back on the car seat and just stared at the road they were going through. It was secretly hoped that Danita would never notice the cold atmosphere coming from the man sitting next to her.
"What if we listen to music? Certain radios usually play good songs." Danita's hand moved to turn on the radio. "It turns out there's a review of a new movie." The short-haired girl looked a little disappointed when heard from her tone.
"...Tells about the life of a second child who studied abroad and had to face various problems alone..."
"You heard the reviews too, Ignacia?" Danita asked, looking slightly at the one sitting behind her, "do you want to watch the movie? The genre is similar to the casual genre that is usually in Miss Cream's book."
"...The audience will be invited to adventure in a city full of hope and millions of possibilities to realize dreams, to find a heart patch that has a vision that is in line with it..."
If heard, it looks like this film that is being reviewed has an interesting story. Ignacia's opinion is the same as Danita's. "You're gonna change our plans after the picnic? You want to watch the movie together?" Ignacia.
"Do you want to?" Danita turns to asking Rajendra and Bahri. From the way he asked opinions on others showed his ability to watch movies. Ticket questions can still be ordered online to be fast. So now ask first if their double date partner wants to.
"Of course, I will follow your wishes" Bahri replied quickly. He no longer glanced back because he had to focus on the streets that had been congested since when. "What about you, Rajendra? Want to watch after the picnic?" How dare Bahri ask someone behind him.
Ignacia turned her head, waiting for a somewhat late response. Rajendra thought for a while and finally agreed. Anyway all he wanted was a nice day with Ignacia. If Ignacia leaves, she will go too. And his job was to make sure Ignacia wasn't hurt.
"... Furthermore, the song was popular among teenagers who were re-nostalgic about the obstacles of a love relationship. Without mentioning the title of the song, we all probably already know through the following intron."
Ignacia would turn her attention back to the streets until her ears caught an intro to a song she knew so well. He immediately sharpened his hearing until finally the first verse of the song from the radio was heard.
"We got it started in the worst way,"
"Just by the way you looked at me,"
The girl looked excited then turned to Rajendra to give her the code. 'Do you remember this song? It's a song we listen to at the mall and on peak school nights. Do you remember it?' This is roughly the meaning of Ignacia's meaningful eye gaze.
Rajendra doesn't seem to even notice this song coming from the radio. Rajendra must have forgotten about it because he thought the song was not important. Ignacia is just too naive and thinks that Rajendra will remember all the little details that go on between the two.
Something as warm as Ignacia's right hand. Familiar and comfortable. When examined, it was Rajendra's hand. The man clasped Ignacia's hand without looking. Ignacia could not ask. It's best when both are alone.
Doesn't this situation look familiar? Ignacia seemed to be able to look back at Rajendra's figure protecting him when he was in the hall during the peak night. The figure of Rajendra who guards him from people who can hurt him.
...*****...
"Here you go" suggested Ignacia. Immediately he prepared a pedestal to sit down, waiting for Danita and her two guests to come carrying other items. Ignacia would come back to help Danita with a picnic basket, but the short-haired girl said she could bring her own.
Rajendra is carrying a cooler box while Bahri is still parking the car. There was nothing Ignacia could do to help but bring a pedestal and find the right place for a picnic. The Botanical Gardens are the best.
Lucky place under a shady tree with a view of a calm lake is still not occupied by people. And after Ignacia laid out the base, the lovers seemed to want to make the same friend. But unfortunately Ignacia could not share because there was not enough shadow.
Ignacia will take over the cooler box from Rajendra but this tall man will. "Well, where did I put this?" he asked where to take care of it himself. Ignacia just wants to help her friends.
Ignacia pointed at a corner, "just put it there for easy retrieval later." The three began to sit. Danita put the picnic basket in the middle of the pedestal and then began to take out snacks from the dish.
"We make fruit sandwiches, fruits, and kimbab. No problem for you?" Danita asked Rajendra. The one being asked just nodded. The important thing is now that they are free from the car that made him sick earlier. Even if someone she doesn't want is coming soon.
"Sorry to keep you waiting" Bahri came. He dared not look at Rajendra or Ignacia.
"It's okay," said Ignacia kindly. It must be so that Danita is not suspicious.
The picnic begins. Danita opened the food that had been arranged neatly with Ignacia. Ignacia takes out the chopsticks while Danita moves some of the sandwich pieces to a better plate. "You guys, try the food I made with Ignacia," Danita said with a friendly smile.
Rajendra was the first to market with a sandwich containing Whipped cream and fresh fruit. The content that looks interesting makes him want to try. In one bite Rajendra can feel a sensation like sweet and fresh in addition to the shape that is beautiful.
Bahri took the chopsticks Ignacia gave and began eating them in kimbab. "Hm you made it well" praised the man sitting beside Danita, "you rolled it neatly too."
"The sandwich is delicious. This is your first time making a fruit sandwich?" Rajendra is now praising. Ignacia nodded in response, saying if she managed to make the sandwich so pretty after a couple of times looking at the tutorial made it.
In addition to the food that was served perfectly, there was some chatter that Danita brought. This short-haired girl was indeed her hobby of speaking, the various topics she brought with her energy that seemed to increase after chatting with people. Almost the same as Rajendra if with his friends first.
Meanwhile Ignacia was listening more. She is happy Rajendra can befriend Danita without showing any dislike for Bahri. And when Danita's lover chimed in, Rajendra was no longer cold.
The atmosphere is warmer. The four of them leaned back on the trunk of the big tree that had been their umbrella since. Ignacia slowly leaned her head against Rajendra's shoulder, feeling more comfortable like this. The conversation had thinned and only the feeling of pleasure was left enjoying the rest of the time.
"Do I need to check the schedule of the movie we're going to see?" Rajendra. Others have been relaxing here for a long time until they almost forget the schedule to watch.
Ignacia nodded, Danita also agreed. Don't ask how about Bahri. The man was asleep on Danita's shoulder. His face looked peaceful.
Rajendra typed something on his phone. Therefore Ignacia pulled herself so that her lover could be more free to type. Then suddenly one hand of Rajendra brought Ignacia's head back to his shoulders.
"I don't mind you leaning on me" he whispered still with a full look at the phone in his hand. Ignacia according to him. Back in his comfortable position next to Rajendra.
Rajendra told Danita about the film schedule this afternoon. They still have about an hour to reach the mall where the cinema was checked. The distance was not so close, so it was better to leave now.
Bahri is still not fully aware. Now let Rajendra show his ability to drive. It is not surprising that he has been taught how to drive at this age. He said he had taken a Tampa course to tell Ignacia. For surprise, he said.
Ignacia sat in front, next to Rajendra. I really want Ignacia to capture the moment when the man next to her is driving. His gaze on the streets was really cool. The serious face that Ignacia missed was back.
The look of admiration kept coming from Ignacia to make Rajendra rather nervous. Even Rajendra had turned to Ignacia who still wanted to look at him for a long time when there was a red light. "Why are you looking at me like that?" tanyakanya.
"You look cool" Ignacia replied quickly.
Danita who was sitting in the back seat smiled widely, wanting to laugh but could not. In addition to maintaining the feelings of his friend, he also had to remain silent so that Bahri's sleep was not disturbed.
Rajendra was not left thinking with Ignacia's overly honest answer. But doesn't someone who drives usually look cool? Either male or female. Being unable to record, Ignacia continued to look at Rajendra until she was satisfied.
...*****...
"I seem to have to use the toilet for a while" Ignacia told Rajendra as she climbed to the floor where the cinema was. "You guys go in first, I'll catch up later." Rajendra refused, he did not want to leave Ignacia alone in this crowded mall. Afraid that something might happen and Rajendra is not there to help.
Be Danita and Bahri who book tickets first while waiting for Ignacia and Rajendra to come. There's still time, so it doesn't matter if you wait a little.
After coming from the toilet, Rajendra finds Ignacia typing something on her phone while walking towards Rajendra. "Bahri asked if you wanted popcorn or not, then what kind of drink you wanted" Ignacia said.
"You're still communicating with him?" rajendra's response was cold, "why are you sending a message? We can order it ourselves later." Rajendra looks bad. All day he had been holding back, but seeing Ignacia who was still close to other men made him dislike.
"I'm sorry."
"We order ourselves." Rajendra took Ignacia by the hand and went straight to the cinema. Ignacia was wrong again this time? I just want to take something. Was Rajendra so upset with Bahri after that tense night?
In the lobby of the cinema, Ignacia and Rajendra find a couple who are on a double date with him have brought tickets. Danita gave Ignacia two tickets. Along with that, Bahri suddenly invites Rajendra to order a drink.
"Let them here, come with me to buy drinks."
Both get into the queue. Look through the menu before deciding. There was no talk, just silence until the two finally got to order. Bahri ordered first. "Please one Thai Tea original, one Taro Milk Tea, and one Lychee Tea. What do you want Rajendra?"
The man next to him let out a deep breath, "one Java Tea, please."
Rajendra turned to Ignacia, with a smile from the long-haired girl. But Rajendra's strange gaze made his smile disappear slowly. He coded like asking if he should go there. Rajendra shook his head then stopped settling down.
"Did I make another mistake? Looks like I really ruined his day." Inner Ignacia.
"Ignacia, did you take a picture before the picnic? I saw the photo on the back of your phone." Danita looked at the photos of Ignacia and Rajendra on her friend's cell phone, "you guys look very compatible. Where did you take this photo? Which studio?"
Thanks to Danita, Ignacia can return to the real world. But it was immediately spoiled as soon as it was attacked by some questions. They finally talked about the photo until their second lover came. Bahri carries Danita's order while Rajendra takes Ignacia's property with him.
"We'd better get in. The film is about to begin" Rajendra takes Ignacia away, followed by Bahri and Danita in the back.
Throughout the film, Ignacia focuses only on what is on the screen. His hands were placed on his thighs, resting comfortably in order to still be able to enjoy the film being aired. And in the middle of his focus, Rajendra unceasingly took Ignacia's left hand, grasping it gently.
"Why?" Ignacia whispered. Rajendra. The girl then leaned her head against Rajendra's shoulder. "I'm sorry for making this day fall short of your expectations, Rajendra."