The Danger I want

The Danger I Want Episode 5

I wake up flushed, I can't believe I had such nasty dream... but the worse part it felt so real, will my brother and Cassian end up together?? " Nalia breakfast is ready" my brother tells me..."Good morning bro" I greet as I descend the stairs "mhhmm the pancakes looks nice"I say picking one to eat...my brother ruffles my hair and laugh....."where's Cassian" don't tell me that scumbag is still sleeping like the house belongs to him.

"He left " my brother says sadly and I can't but wonder why he left...I thought he said he was going to stay "he said his close friend invited him to stay with him for the time being, he left this morning" ohh was all I could mouth...."well it's just you and I again" I say happily.... finally he's out of our life."The college entrance exam result will be out next week"....."I know" I shrug like it's nothing... I've always been top student so I know I'm definitely getting enrolled in one of the biggest College at Italian.....

"University di Bologna," I say dreamily, leaning back in my chair. "Is the oldest university in the world.... founded 1088... it is super prestigious and it is based in Bologna... it's been my dream to go there...."

My brother Reno raises an eyebrow.

"Cause I love strange and unique... and I've heard strange things happen there."

Reno grins. "Yunno I heard ghosts live there," he says in a spooky voice, wiggling his fingers at me.

I burst out laughing. "How old are you ren? 12?"

I lean forward and wink. "Don't worry, I'll look for a very sexy male ghost for you."

His face scrunches up like he bit into a lemon. "Ew. Disgusting."

"Mission accomplished," I cackle, stealing the last bite of his pancake.

But later, when I’m alone in my room, I google _University of Bologna haunted_ at 2am.

Archways built in 1088. Students who never left. Whispers in the library at night.

My stomach does flips.

Part of me wants the sexy ghost.

The bigger part wonders if Cassian would’ve laughed at my ghost-hunting plans too.

"I'm gonna miss you," Reno says that night. This time his voice was low. Softer than I’ve ever heard it.

I would really miss him too.

It has always been both of us. Just us against everything.

But very soon I'll be going... I'll be leaving to a very far place.

My throat gets tight. "Can't we go together? I mean you can rent a house there. Bologna's beautiful. We could—"

"We have discussed this Nalia," he cuts in gently, but firm. "My job is here. I can't."

The same answer he’s been giving me for weeks.

I nod and stare at my hands. "Right. Yeah. I know."

The silence stretches between us.

I can't help but feel a little bit sad. Not just because I’m leaving him, but because for the first time it feels like we’re not a team of two anymore.

He reaches over and squeezes my hand. "You’re gonna do amazing things in Bologna. And I’ll visit. Every month if I have to."

I force a smile. "Promise you’ll bring pancakes?"

"Promise I’ll bring pancakes," he laughs, but his eyes look sad too.

RESULTS DAY*

The website takes forever to load.

My fingers are shaking so bad I have to type my student ID twice.

Reno is pacing behind me in the kitchen. "Breathe, Nalia. Just click it."

"Don't rush me!" I snap, but my voice is small.

_Click._

*UNIVERSITÀ DI BOLOGNA*

*Status: AMMESSA*

*Corso di Laurea: Lettere e Filosofia*

For a second nothing makes sense.

Then it does.

I got in.

Bologna. The oldest university in the world. Founded 1088.

My dream since I was 14 and read about the ghosts in the library.

"I... I got in," I whisper.

Reno whoops so loud he nearly knocks over a chair. He pulls me into a hug, lifting me off the ground. "That's my girl! I KNEW IT!"

But as he’s spinning me around, the reality hits like ice water.

Bologna is 5 hours away.

A new city. New people.

No Reno. No house that smells like pancakes.

And definitely no Cassian.

My smile starts to wobble.

"I'm leaving," I say quietly.

Reno sets me down and cups my face. "You’re not leaving us. You’re going to become you."

His eyes are wet. "And I’ll be at every break. With pancakes. Promise."

I nod, but my chest feels hollow.

Because getting what you’ve always wanted... means saying goodbye to what you have now.

Later that night my phone buzzes.

Unknown number.

_Congrats. Heard you got into Bologna. -C_

My heart stops.