Chapter XVII: Reflections
Liz stirs awake late in the morning, basking in the rare luxury of no school obligations for the day. As the sunlight filters through her bedroom window, she stretches and instinctively reaches for the framed picture of Bennett on her nightstand. She presses her lips against the glass, hugging the frame tightly, as if the simple act could bring her closer to him.
"Good morning, Bennett," she whispers, before placing the picture back in its spot.
With a deep breath, she heads downstairs. The aroma of coffee and freshly cooked food greets her, and to her surprise, she finds her grandfather, Apolonio, sitting at the dining table. Still in his police uniform, he radiates the usual stern and commanding aura that has always made her friends tread cautiously around him.
"Abuelo, you're home early!" Liz greets him warmly, though a pang of nervousness creeps in. It's not every day her grandfather is home during breakfast.
He looks up from his plate and nods.
"Hmm, no duty today. Took a break," he replies curtly, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room.
"Come, eat."
Liz takes her seat across from him, silently thankful that her grandma has already prepared her breakfast. She begins eating, glancing occasionally at her grandfather, who seems unusually contemplative this morning.
"How's school?" he asks after a while, his gaze sharp yet curious.
Liz swallows her food and nods.
"It's fine, Abuelo. I'm keeping up with everything."
Apolonio hums in acknowledgment but doesn't drop the subject entirely.
"You're still in touch with that... what's his name? Ah, the little guy. Dwarf?" he says, referring to Bennett with his infamous nickname.
Liz freezes for a moment. The nickname used to amuse her back then, especially when Bennett would laugh it off awkwardly, but now, hearing it feels bittersweet. She forces a smile.
"Bennett, Abuelo. His name is Bennett."
Her grandfather chuckles.
"Right, Bennett. I remember the first time you introduced him to me. You said he was just a friend, even called him your big brother. Funny thing is, he looked more like your little brother to me."
Liz laughs nervously, her mind flashing back to that day. She had been so protective of her relationship with Bennett that she lied about it, afraid of what her strict grandfather might say. Bennett, for his part, had played along, albeit awkwardly, and even tried to impress Apolonio despite his obvious fear of him.
"Well, he's a good kid," Apolonio continues, his tone softening.
"It's strange how he suddenly disappeared. Like he vanished into thin air."
Liz feels a lump form in her throat but manages to nod.
"I miss him too, Abuelo."
Apolonio leans back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"You know, Liz, Bennett is one of the rare ones. A good man with a good heart. Blessed be the girl who loves him. She'd be very lucky."
Liz's heart skips a beat, her cheeks flushing. She glances down at her plate, willing herself to stay composed. She senses her grandmother and her aunts, Dolores and Dominga, have paused their chores in the kitchen to listen in.
Her grandfather's words hang in the air, heavy with meaning, and Liz can't help but feel emotional. She knows he doesn't realize that she's the "lucky girl" he's referring to, but the unintentional blessing still warms her heart.
"Thank you, Abuelo," she whispers, her voice trembling slightly.
Apolonio notices her reaction and pats her hand gently.
"If you ever have someone like Bennett in your life, don't let them go, Liz. He's a rare find."
Liz nods, blinking back tears. She finishes her breakfast in silence, her mind swirling with memories and emotions.
Once she's done, she excuses herself and steps outside, needing fresh air to clear her thoughts. Dominga and Dolores are already there, hanging clothes to dry. They look at her with knowing smiles.
"That was close," Dominga teases, nudging her playfully.
Liz shakes her head, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Abuelo doesn't know anything. Let's keep it that way."
Dolores chuckles but quickly wipes her eyes.
"You know, Liz, Papa really meant what he said about Bennett. He respects him, even if he doesn't show it outright."
Liz looks up at the sky, the weight of her grandfather's words settling in her heart. She closes her eyes and silently prays. Bennett, wherever you are, I hope you're safe. I'll find you. I promise.
The midday sun streams through Liz's bedroom window as she lazily scrolls through her phone. The serenity of her late morning is interrupted by a familiar chime—a message from Wyn.
Wyn: "Hey Liz, free to chat?"
Liz: "Always, what's up?"
What begins as casual talk about school quickly snowballs into an animated exchange. Wyn fills Liz in on the latest gossip, recounting tales of their classmates' antics. They also chat about their next serve—discussing what they could improve and what strategies they should try out next time.
Their conversation carries on seamlessly until Wyn hesitates for a moment.
Wyn: "Liz, can I ask you something? It's a bit personal."
Liz feels a knot in her stomach but types back, "Of course, Wyn. What is it?"
After a slight pause, Wyn's question appears on the screen.
Wyn: "What did you do when Bennett disappeared? I mean, the first few days?"
The question sends Liz into a flashback, and for a moment, she forgets her phone is in her hand.
The first week after Bennett's disappearance was chaos in her mind. Liz had searched tirelessly for answers, starting with the thought that something terrible might have happened. She had combed through every social media platform, checking news feeds, obituaries, and any corner of the internet where his name might appear.
He wasn't dead—at least, no evidence suggested he was. That fact only deepened the mystery.
Frustrated but determined, Liz mustered the courage to call Bennett's parents, despite the tense relationship she had with them. The memory of their scolding voices still echoes in her mind. They blamed her for being irresponsible and selfish, though she refrained from arguing. They were just as lost as she was—they didn't know where he was either.
Desperate, she had reached out to Bennett's best friend, Adrian Pascual, hoping he might have answers. But Adrian was equally clueless.
"I haven't heard from him either," he had told her, his tone a mix of confusion and concern.
As the weeks turned into months, all Liz could do was sit with her regrets. She replayed the countless moments where she had mistreated Bennett—her carelessness, her selfish outbursts, her inability to appreciate his love for her. Each memory was a blow to her heart.
In that time, Liz started changing bit by bit. She wanted to honor Bennett, to prove that his love and patience weren't wasted. She prayed often, asking for forgiveness and guidance. She found herself drawing closer to God, seeking strength to become someone better—not just for Bennett but for herself and those around her.
The sound of a notification pulls Liz out of her thoughts. Wyn has sent another message.
Wyn: "You know, I tried warning you about your attitude back then. Bennett saw the real you, and he never gave up. Even when you didn't want to change, even when you were at your worst, he believed in you."
Tears stream down Liz's cheeks as she types her response.
"I know, Wyn. I was terrible to him. He didn't deserve that."
Wyn continues.
Wyn: "Bennett wasn't just in your life to love you—he was helping you grow, Liz. He wanted you to be the best version of yourself. Even when things got tough—money issues, or you blaming others for your messes, or flinging anger around—he stayed. It's like he knew you'd realize your mistakes one day, but he didn't want to force you."
Liz sobs quietly, her heart heavy with guilt. "I really did him wrong, Wyn," she types shakily.
Wyn's reply comes quickly.
Wyn: "You did. But you've changed, Liz. Like, a lot. Look at yourself now—you're diligent, you're excelling in school, especially in math, you're more considerate, and you're even drawing closer to God. You're becoming the kind of person Bennett always saw in you."
Liz wipes her tears and smiles faintly, warmth replacing the ache in her heart. She responds,
"Thank you, Wyn. I promise, I'll make it up to Bennett. I'll prove that his efforts weren't in vain—not just to him, but to everyone who stuck with me through my worst."
As she sends the message, Liz closes her eyes and silently prays.
"Bennett, wherever you are, I hope you know this: I won't let your love and patience go to waste. I'll keep growing, for you, for myself, and for everyone who believed in me."
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