Sisterzones
Overseas scholarships

Alia tried not to make much noise when she opened the door to Daniel's room. But his efforts were in vain. The owner of the room was already aware of his arrival.

"Eh. Is Brother bothering you?"

Daniel looked at Alia for a moment, then looked at the pile of books in front of him. Only then did he shake his head and refocus on his streak. Alia stepped in after that reaction. He had a glass of warm tea in his hand.

"Don't push yourself too hard, yeah." Alia put the tea glass on the table. He pulled up his chair and sat down near Daniel without saying anything more.

Daniel was not bothered even though Alia kept looking at him. Alia was often impressed by Daniel's focus on what he faced. Sometimes Alia was also surprised, even in a state of full focus though, Daniel was still able to be vigilant with the surrounding. It looked like a natural talent so even Daniel didn't feel special at all.

"What's wrong?" ask Daniel after finishing his training. He changed his seat to face Alia.

Alia did not answer. He stared at Daniel and put his head on the table. Even so, his gaze was unfocused and looked blank.

Daniel said nothing more. He just stared at Alia's jet black bead that matched his hair color. Daniel was calmer. That reason was also what made him like to stare into Alia's black eyes silently. Something inside brought a calmness that he could not get from others with the same eye color.

"Daniel's... After graduation, do you know where you're going to go to college?" ask Alia. He blinked gently, trying to regain his focus.

"Not knowing."

"Uh, lie. There's no way someone like you hasn't had any plans." Alia snatched away the annoyance.

Daniel's silence means justifying Alia's statement. Daniel weighed for a moment before pulling a piece of paper from the pile of his books. He handed the paper to Alia.

The look on Alia's face had already changed as she read the writing on the paper at a glance. He stared alternately between Daniel and the paper in his hand. "This...real? You intend to come here?"

Daniel was silent for a moment, noticing the expression Alia made on her sweet face. "What do you think of Brother?"

"Eh?" Alia was a little surprised when Daniel asked her opinion. "Um, how is it? Foreign sounds far away."

Doesn't sound far. But it's far away. With Daniel handing the paper over to her, it means that the teenager has already chosen his destination. The reason Daniel didn't tell him right away was of course because he had to ask Alia for her opinion on this matter and had many considerations of his own.

"Full students studying abroad. There is even an allowance given every month" Daniel added. Doesn't sound like persuasion, but if Daniel did re-tell the thing that Alia should have read on the paper it would be like a sign of his strong desire for this choice.

Alia did not respond immediately. He was even thinking hard until his forehead was wrinkled deep.

Daniel knew the purpose of Alia coming to his room at this time. That woman must be quite confused right now. Alia used to swallow her own problems and solve them more without involving Daniel. But, occasionally, Alia would ask for Daniel's opinion which was sometimes much clearer than her. Alia's arrival this time is related to the continuation of Daniel's education.

"If you've saved as hard as anything, it must still be difficult to meet my college needs. I will also balk if Big Brother takes on more part-time jobs like last year. Time to rest is too little and fall sick." Daniel picked up his tea which had already begun to cool down. "I'll be banned from working. Especially reason? I have to focus on my studies like I have to focus on my school."

Alia felt overwhelmed by those words. He smiled bitterly, secretly wanting to scoop up the thickest book in front of him and hit Daniel's head with it.

Not because Daniel said it wrong. Instead, what Daniel said was what Alia wanted to say before. Daniel has denied and guessed his line of thought. Alia was so afraid that it turned out that the contents of her mind were written on her forehead, considering that it was so easy for Daniel to read it.

It is not just the reason for the focus of learning that makes Alia forbid Daniel to work. With Daniel's ability, he shouldn't have to worry about his sister's academic situation. Daniel himself asked to work.

Another more powerful reason relates to his mother's message that until now he still holds.

"It's just the calm before the storm, my dear, Al. You should know there's a lot of dangerous stuff out there. For us, it's invisible. But for Daniel, it's real and it's really going to happen. Protect her. Protect your sister well, baby?"

Alia did not have time to ask her mother much about the message. Daniel never had much interaction from people outside of their small family. So far, Daniel has never once been involved in bad things except a small quarrel with his envious peers.

Now Alia was hesitating. He did not know what kind of danger his mother insisted on keeping Daniel safe. But if studying abroad can minimize the danger, Alia can consider it again. The range of danger he could think of would have no impact on Daniel being overseas. Previously, he did not expect Daniel would be ambitious enough to pursue the scholarship.

In fact, Alia could've financed Daniel's college. Moreover, Daniel must be easier to obtain scholarships at any university he chooses considering a number of his learning achievements. But Alia is hesitant to be able to solve other problems with her current and future financial condition.

"Sister, the farewell also costs money." Daniel broke the silence that Alia made during thinking. "If I go to college here, Brother's savings can be for something else. I'll have enough pocket money from that scholarship. Didn't you think about going to college?"

Daniel remained silent. Alia's answer wouldn't have been like that if Daniel had asked her a few years ago. He knew Alia also wanted to feel like a college student like her other friends. But time has removed that desire. Daniel always felt guilty. Because of her, Alia has to work hard to meet their needs and save for Daniel's future.

"There really is no other desire?"

Alia thought for a moment, then smiled cheerfully, as if all the burden of her mind had disappeared perfectly. "Open a cake shop!"

That was a pretty damn impressed answer. But Daniel realized, indeed, Alia's interest in this field. Daniel also recognizes Alia's skills here.

"The money saved for that means something" concludes Daniel.

Alia took her breath. "If you're thinking about the final cost of your school, Brother has prepared for it as well. Because of this, our savings money is not so much. Huuh...how can Mom and Dad get us into that expensive school? Public schools can."

Alia and Daniel's school is the same. It is an expensive elite school. Alia did not know how her parents took care of the financing at the school. One thing he knew, he and Daniel did get the privilege there. One of them was the direct protection of his principal. Therefore, Alia and Daniel can live a quiet school life, without any interference or bully. Alia and Daniel were also among the outstanding students.

However, Alia could not be proud to compare herself to Daniel. He who got the champion three general in the midst of tight competition, like nothing compared to Daniel who is like a monster. Mastering many fields perfectly.

Alia put her head again on the table. His hand still held the paper about the scholarship. Daniel looked back at his books.

"Oh, this town..."

"It's true."

Alia widened her eyes. He straightened his body again and looked at Daniel more seriously.

"The college place there is in the same city as Brother's best friend first." Daniel could already guess the reason for Alia's reaction. "What's her name? Ghea?"

"Sir Ghea. He's still your senior."

Daniel shrugged his shoulders. He saw a glimmer of light in Alia's black eyes that still looked cloudy a moment ago. Even so, he could see Alia's faint trousers.

Alia had many friends, but she only had a friend who after all these years had no news at all. Daniel had heard the story, because Alia at that time was crying and moody for a whole week.

Ghea did not finish school due to a serious case, so had to be expelled from school during the second year of High School. Alia wouldn't have been that sad if it wasn't for Ghea having to be taken abroad for psychiatric treatment by her family. Daniel doesn't really understand, but every time Alia talks about it, he will always emphasize that Ghea is a good person who will not be able to do stupid things so that he is expelled from school. The last news that Alia knew was the name of the city where Ghea was undergoing the treatment process.

"So how? Can I try this scholarship?" ask Daniel.

Alia was silent. But it didn't take long for him to nod confidently.

"You have the right to try, Daniel." Alia smiled gently. "So, I will support your choice."

Alia was originally worried about the cost of this college, but Daniel brought a solution that made it easier. Alia also believes, any danger that targets Daniel as her mother ordered will not reach her abroad.

Alia just didn't quite understand the power behind the danger her mother mentioned.

Alia's gentle smile helped Daniel pull the corners of his lips as well. Although he had guessed that Alia would agree to his wish, he still could not help his smile even though thin. "Thank you then."

Alia got up from her chair and stood beside Daniel, then ruffled her hair. "You're so much better looking when you smile, Daniel. Don't be so stingy smile."

Finished messing with Daniel's hair, Alia immediately waltzed away. On the doorstep he looked back at Daniel who was still looking at him. "Don't sleep too late. Learn enough."

Daniel continued to stare until Alia closed the door. He held his hair in disarray for a while before refocusing himself on some of the questions in his book.

In two weeks, he will face his final exams.