Chapter XXX: Let Thy Heart be Changed, Renewed
Liz finds herself still within the dream, standing beside Bennett in an endless expanse of twilight. The soft hum of the wind swirls around them, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers. She looks at him, curious, as he smiles knowingly.
"Come, I want to show you something," Bennett says, snapping his fingers.
Before Liz can respond, the scenery shifts. The ground beneath them softens into rich soil, and the air fills with the aroma of fresh leaves and blooming petals. They are now surrounded by a vast garden—lush, vibrant, and filled with an array of flora Liz has never seen before.
"This is my personal garden," Bennett says, his voice filled with pride. "While I am imprisoned, God has granted me this place. Here, I can cultivate and nurture plants, creating life even in my isolation."
Liz walks forward, mesmerized by the colors and scents. Then, among the verdant display, she spots a familiar flower. A rose, deep red, standing tall in a pot.
"This... this is the rose you gave me on Valentine's Day," she murmurs in awe, brushing her fingers against its delicate petals. "It's still standing. It's even bloomed more."
Bennett chuckles, his eyes glimmering with happiness.
"That means you've taken care of it. I'm glad."
Liz turns to him, curiosity sparking in her gaze.
"Why did you give me something like this back then? Why a potted rose?"
Bennett's smile softens.
"Because of your shopping sprees," he teases lightly. "I couldn't afford to buy you more Valentine's gifts when there was already an overwhelming amount of unorganized merch at home. But more than that... I wanted to give you something meaningful."
Liz tilts her head, intrigued.
"A potted rose is different from a bouquet," he continues, voice gentle. "I wanted to see how you'd take care of something—not just a material object, but a living thing. It represents our love. Roses have thorns, just like relationships have challenges, but if nurtured well, it grows, flourishes. It's like taking care of our future, our future children. That is why I gave it to you."
Tears well in Liz's eyes. Overwhelmed by his words, she throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"Bennett..."
He takes her right hand in his, guiding her further into the garden. They stroll past beds of purple tulips and fields of lavender, their scents mixing into an intoxicating fragrance that lingers in the air. The horizon glows with soft hues of pink and gold.
Bennett stops, turning to face her. His hands cup hers gently, and his gaze is earnest, piercing through her soul.
"Liz, promise me something," he says solemnly. "Promise me that you will change for the better. That you will not look back at your old, selfish, and spendthrift ways. That you will grow, just like this garden, just like the rose."
Liz's breath catches. She gazes into his eyes, feeling the weight of his words settle deep into her heart. Slowly, she kneels, lowering her head as her hands clasp together.
"Bennett," she whispers, voice shaking with emotion. "I swear before you, as one who has been blinded by indulgence, that I will become better. That I will embrace wisdom and cherish the love given to me. I will not squander what has been blessed upon me. And I will never take love for granted again."
Her words hang in the air like a solemn vow. Bennett watches her, eyes gleaming with warmth, before he too drops to his knees. He lifts her chin gently, their gazes locking in silent understanding.
Then, as if the world ceases to exist around them, they close the distance, their lips meeting in a tender, heartfelt kiss.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Liz lies peacefully in her bed, hugging her pillow tightly. A dreamy smile graces her lips as she unconsciously murmurs,
"I love you, Bennett."
Dolores, peeking from the doorway, watches the scene with amusement. She waves Dominga over, whispering,
"Come look at this."
Dominga approaches, taking in the sight of Liz's blissful expression. Then, unable to hold it in, the two burst into soft laughter, shaking their heads as they close the door quietly behind them.
Liz remains in her dream, standing before Bennett with a longing gaze. The warmth of his embrace still lingers on her skin, and she clutches his hands tighter, afraid to let go.
"Will I see you again?" she asks, her voice trembling.
Bennett chuckles softly, shaking his head.
"Of course, you will. That's why I've already given you the instructions."
Liz pauses, realization dawning on her.
"That's… different," she murmurs. "Back then, I was always the one giving instructions, planning our next meeting."
She looks up at him, eyes searching.
"But now, it's you."
Bennett grins.
"It's my turn," he says simply. He lifts a hand and gently brushes a strand of hair from her face. "But, Liz, I need you to trust me. I've already given you two clues. That should be enough for now."
Liz pouts, still unwilling to let him go.
"Can't you just give me one more? Just a little hint?"
Bennett laughs, shaking his head.
"Nope. But I will tell someone who will help you find me."
Liz frowns.
"Someone? Who?"
"You'll see," he replies, pulling her into another warm hug. "I miss you too, Liz. More than you can imagine. But you have to wake up now."
Tears sting at the corners of Liz's eyes as she tightens her arms around him. "I don't want to. I don't want this to end."
"You have to," Bennett whispers. "For us."
The dream dissolves, and Liz jolts awake, tears streaming down her cheeks. She turns her head and sees Bennett's framed photograph beside her bed. Without hesitation, she picks it up and presses it against her chest.
"I miss you, Bennett," she whispers, her voice cracking.
As she pulls herself together, she hears laughter outside her room. The door creaks open, revealing Dolores and Dominga, barely containing their amusement.
"You were smiling like a fool in your sleep," Dolores teases. "And hugging your pillow while mumbling 'I love you, Bennett.'" She bursts into laughter, nudging Dominga, who giggles beside her.
Liz glares at them, her face heating up.
"Oh, shut up."
Dominga smirks.
"Admit it. You're still crazy about him."
Liz sighs, standing up.
"I don't have time for this."
As she steps out of her room and heads downstairs, her grandmother is already at the dining table, setting breakfast. The teasing fades as Liz takes her seat.
"Enough," her grandmother says gently. "Let the girl eat in peace."
Dolores and Dominga exchange amused glances but say nothing more. Liz takes a deep breath and decides to share her dream.
"I saw Bennett again," she begins, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her mug.
"But this time, he said someone would help me find him."
Her grandmother nods thoughtfully.
"And do you have any idea who that someone is?"
Liz shakes her head.
"No, and it's driving me crazy."
Before anyone can respond, her phone buzzes on the table. She picks it up and sees a message from Brother Padilla, urgently requesting her presence at the cathedral.
"I need to go," Liz announces, standing up. "Brother Padilla needs help at the cathedral."
Her grandma sighs but nods.
"I'll come with you. I'll wait there while you help."
As they arrive at the cathedral, the towering structure looms over them, bathed in golden morning light. Inside, Brother Padilla is already bustling around, organizing papers and talking to some volunteers. He waves Liz over as soon as he sees her.
"Good, you're here. There's a lot to do," he says, handing her a stack of hymn books.
"Sort these out by mass schedule."
Liz gets to work, but exhaustion slowly creeps up on her. By the time she and her grandma returns home, she barely makes it to her room before collapsing onto her bed, sleep overtaking her instantly.
In her dream, she finds herself back in Bennett's embrace, lying side by side on his bed. The familiarity of it tugs at her heart.
"From your promise earlier and the choices you've made recently," Bennett says, running his fingers through her hair, "I can see that the old Liz is fading away. And that's a good thing."
Liz blinks at him, confusion flashing across her face.
"The old me?"
Bennett sighs, his expression turning serious.
"Liz, I never wanted you to follow in your father's footsteps. He abandoned you and your mother, but he still clung to the last name 'Flores' as if it meant anything. He didn't care about you."
Liz swallows hard.
"I… I know."
"Back then, I told you this so many times," Bennett continues. "But you were blinded by money. You were lost."
A wave of guilt crashes over Liz, and she grips the sheets beneath her.
"I was selfish, wasn't I?"
Bennett cups her face, his thumb wiping away a stray tear.
"But you're changing. And that's what matters."
Liz nods, determination settling in her chest.
"I will change. I promise."
Bennett smiles, satisfied.
"Good. Now, about the clue you've been asking for…"
Liz's heart pounds.
"Yes? Who is it?"
Bennett leans in closer, his voice a whisper.
"Adrian Pascual."
Liz furrows her brows.
"Your best friend?"
Bennett nods.
"I'll be visiting him in his dreams too. He will help you."
Liz bites her lip.
"But should I really drag him into this?"
Bennett gives her a knowing look.
"You shouldn't do this alone, Liz. Last time you tried handling things by yourself, it didn't end well."
Liz winces at the memory.
"You're right. I'll ask Wyn to help me too."
Bennett grins.
"Now that's what I like to hear."
They hold each other in the quiet of the dream, time slipping away like sand through their fingers. Liz closes her eyes, savoring the warmth of his presence.
On the other side, Dolores and Dominga finish brushing their teeth and return to their shared room, only to find Liz still asleep, a soft smile on her lips.
"Again?" Dolores groans. "She's dreaming about him again, isn't she?"
Dominga sighs.
"And it's only 7 PM. She hasn't even had dinner yet."
Dolores crosses her arms.
"Well, we have no choice but to wake her up."
Dominga smirks.
"Let's be gentle."
Dolores grins mischievously.
"Or not."
As they nudge Liz awake, she groans, rubbing her eyes.
"What…?"
"Dinner," Dominga announces. "Unless you want to sleep until morning."
Liz groans but drags herself out of bed. As she heads downstairs, one thought lingers in her mind, to follow the instructions Bennett gave her"
Her journey to finding Bennett had just begun.