Chapter XXXVII: Who You Know VS What You Know
At the Campus Ministry Office, Bro. Padilla sits at his desk, meticulously organizing and signing papers. The soft rustling of documents fills the room as he aligns the forms into neat stacks, his brows furrowed in concentration. The office door creaks open, and he looks up to see Fr. Edgar stepping inside.
"Good morning, Brother," Fr. Edgar greets with a warm nod.
"Good morning, Father," Bro. Padilla responds, setting down his pen.
Fr. Edgar approaches the desk, glancing at the stacks of papers. "Have you conducted the election of officers yet?" he inquires, adjusting his sleeves.
Bro. Padilla sighs, shaking his head.
"Not yet, Father. I've been swamped with paperwork. I plan to do it this afternoon."
Fr. Edgar nods in understanding and turns towards the door, but before he can leave, Bro. Padilla clears his throat.
"Actually, Father, I already have a list of potential officers."
Fr. Edgar pauses and turns back, curiosity piqued. Bro. Padilla hands him a neatly written list. As Fr. Edgar scans the names, he remains silent, deep in thought. Finally, he looks up and says,
"I'll review this. Expect my validation by the end of May."
Meanwhile, Liz drifts into sleep once more. In her dream, she finds herself in an unfamiliar scene, yet something about the place feels recognizable. As she takes in her surroundings, she realizes she is on the second floor of the elementary building.
Curious, she peeks down the hallway and notices a cluster of students gathered near a classroom. As she walks toward them, she recognizes a familiar face among them—a younger Bennett. Her heart clenches as she realizes that this is not just any memory but one tied to him.
The gathered students are altar servers, and the atmosphere buzzes with anticipation. A younger Bro. Padilla steps forward, raising a hand to call for silence.
"Let us begin with a prayer," he announces. The students bow their heads, and a solemn hush falls over the group as he leads them in prayer.
Once the prayer ends, Bro. Padilla continues,
"Today, we are here to elect new officers for the altar servers. This is an important role, one that requires dedication and faith."
Murmurs ripple through the group as Bro. Padilla starts taking nominations.
"I nominate Bennett Lontoc!" a voice calls out.
Liz watches as several students cheer in agreement, their faces lighting up at the suggestion. A small smile forms on Bennett's face, but before he can respond, another group of students begins to rally for their own candidate.
"Ivan Rey S. Legarda should be president!" Vincent calls out, clapping his friend on the back. Ivan, a curly-haired, tanned-skinned server, glances at the crowd, his lips curling into a confident smile.
Vincent and his group of friends work to persuade the other students, praising Ivan's leadership skills and dedication. Gradually, some students waver, their cheers for Bennett dying down as they consider Ivan instead.
Liz clenches her fists, watching in frustration.
"This isn't fair," she murmurs. "Why can't they see who truly deserves it?"
In the end, the votes are cast, and Ivan is declared the new president of the altar servers.
Liz steps back, heart heavy. She turns away, unable to watch Bennett's reaction. As she walks down the hallway, her thoughts race.
"Why couldn't they see his worth?" she whispers to herself.
"Liz."
She freezes. The voice is unmistakable.
Slowly, she turns around and finds Bennett standing there, looking at her with a gentle smile. Her heart pounds as the dream shifts once again, dissolving into the familiar comfort of Bennett's room.
Liz finds herself in Bennett's room, surrounded by the warmth and familiarity of his presence. She listens intently as he recounts the election story, his voice steady and calm.
"It didn't matter that I wasn't elected president," Bennett says with a small shrug.
Liz frowns, crossing her arms.
"That's ridiculous. You were the most qualified! You could do everything—every role except presider. Why didn't you fight for it?"
Bennett chuckles, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"That's exactly why, Liz."
She tilts her head, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't want to be the one people focused on. It was never about attention, or power, or recognition. The only thing that matters is serving the Lord," he explains.
Liz is momentarily speechless. As she processes his words, a memory flashes in her mind—a lie she told long ago. She had pretended to be an altar server just to impress him, but in reality, she had never truly been one. The weight of that deception presses down on her, making her shoulders slump.
She sits down on his bed, feeling suddenly small. Bennett notices and kneels in front of her, his expression gentle.
"I forgive you for that, you know," he says softly.
Liz's eyes widen. "You what? After everything I did to you? After every horrible thing?"
Bennett smiles. "Liz, I knew from the start that you were testing me. You wanted to push me away, see if I'd break, see if I'd finally give up on you. But I never did. Because no matter what, I've always been here for you."
Tears brim in Liz's eyes. She looks down, ashamed.
"Why?" she whispers.
Bennett takes a deep breath.
"Because my love for you is extraordinary. Your grandma, your aunts Dolores and Dominga, your mother, Wyn—they all knew how deeply I cared for you. I loved you like a sister, and in private… like a wife. And I've been telling you all this time to let go of that rugged, horrible attitude."
Liz's face burns with embarrassment. She wants to argue, wants to push back, but deep inside, she knows he's right.
They talk for what feels like hours. Bennett speaks about faith, about patience, about love that doesn't waver even in hardship. Liz listens, really listens, for the first time. The walls she built around herself begin to crumble, and for the first time in a long while, she feels free.
Then, something shifts. Liz realizes the depth of her emotions, the truth she had buried under layers of pride and fear.
Bennett leans closer, his warm breath ghosting against her cheek.
"Liz," he murmurs.
Her heart pounds.
"Bennett," she whispers back, her voice trembling.
She closes her eyes and confesses everything. How she had felt all along. How she had changed because of him. How she wished she had realized sooner.
Bennett smiles, his eyes shining with understanding.
"I'm just happy you've changed for the better."
The air between them is heavy with emotion. They both lean in, drawn together like magnets. And then, finally, their lips meet.
It is not rushed, not desperate, but harmonious, solemn, as if making up for all the lost time. The kiss is tender, filled with unspoken apologies, unshed tears, and silent promises. It is unlike any other, unlike anything they've ever felt before.
When they pull away, Liz smiles softly.
"You're amazing, you know that?"
Bennett chuckles.
"I was about to say the same to you."
After a moment, he takes her hand and places it over a familiar notebook.
"Now, read this," he tells her. "These entries hold answers. If you really want to understand everything, this is where you start."
Liz nods. "I love you, Bennett. I miss you so much."
His gaze softens. "I love you too, Liz. And I miss you just as much."
Then, the world fades.
Liz wakes up with tears streaming down her face. She reaches out, as if trying to grasp onto the dream, but it's already slipping away. The only thing left is the warmth in her heart, the lingering echo of his voice.
She turns her head and sees his picture on her bedside table. With a trembling hand, she picks it up and presses a soft kiss to the glass.
"I miss you," she whispers.
And then, with determination, she picks up the notebook and continues reading, uncovering the truths hidden within its pages.