Chapter XXXVIII: Ube Caritas et Amor
Liz finds herself in another dream, but this time, the setting is different. The air is crisp, the sound of rushing water echoes through the surroundings, and towering mountains stand proudly beyond a grand river. Gigantic rocks line the riverbanks, giving the entire place a mystical, untouched beauty. She looks around and realizes that she is standing in an unfamiliar elementary school, positioned near a breathtaking waterfall.
As Liz surveys the area, her eyes land on a familiar figure. Brother Padilla is there, standing with his arms crossed, overseeing something in the distance. Liz instinctively steps forward, attempting to get his attention, but once again, she finds herself as nothing more than a spectator. No one sees her, no one hears her. She is merely an observer to yet another memory.
Her gaze follows Brother Padilla's line of sight, and she notices someone further away. A young man moves among a group of children, handing them clothes with a gentle smile. It takes her a moment to recognize him, but when she does, her heart clenches. It's Bennett. His younger self moves with so much purpose, compassion radiating from his every action. The children's eyes light up as they receive the garments, and some of them hold onto his hands, thanking him in their small voices.
Before Liz can take a step closer, the scene abruptly shifts. The waterfalls, the river, and the mountains dissolve into the grand Central Plaza of Ciudad Fernandina.
Liz spots her younger self, walking away from Bennett with a wide smile on her face. Her carefree steps contrast sharply with the sadness in Bennett's eyes as he watches her leave. Guilt swells within Liz. She remembers this moment. Back then, she never noticed his expression. She never saw how much he was holding back, how much he must have been hurting.
Her attention is drawn to a small commotion nearby. A group of beggar children approaches Bennett, their eyes filled with desperation. Instead of turning them away or simply giving them coins, he gestures for them to follow him. Liz watches as he leads them to an empanadita stall, where he orders food for them. The vendor, recognizing Bennett, nods and starts preparing the warm pastries.
A sudden light erupts from the direction of the side door of the Catedral Metropolitana de San Pablo. Liz turns her head sharply. There, in the glow of the southern entrance, stands a luminous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her hands clasped in prayer. The divine presence fills Liz with overwhelming emotion. She takes a step forward, her voice barely a whisper, yet strong in conviction.
"Our Lady of Charity, pray for us."
The scene shifts again.
Now, she is in Bennett's room.
Bennett sits on the bed, holding his phone, his face reflecting deep concern. He scrolls through something, his expression darkening as he reads. Liz, still in the dream, moves closer and peers at him.
"What is it?" she asks.
Bennett looks up, his voice steady yet filled with urgency.
"A typhoon just devastated an entire region."
Liz's brows knit together. "That's terrible."
Without hesitation, Bennett gets up and starts gathering clothes from his closet. He sorts through them, setting aside anything that could be of use. Liz watches in silent awe. His movements are swift, determined. There is no hesitation in his actions.
"Why are you doing this so quickly?" she finally asks.
Bennett doesn't stop what he's doing.
"Because people need help, and God calls us to serve." His voice carries a certainty that shakes Liz to her core. "Charity isn't just about giving what's extra or what's easy. It's about answering that call without delay. Every second we waste is a second someone goes without shelter, food, or warmth. If we have the ability to help, we must."
Liz remains quiet. This is who Bennett has always been. Selfless. Giving. Unwavering in his faith. She has always known it, yet she has never truly understood the depth of it until now.
Bennett turns to her, his expression softer.
"How's the notebook reading going?"
Liz hesitates before answering, "I'm still on Entry 3."
Bennett chuckles lightly, shaking his head. "You really are slow with it."
She pouts. "Well, excuse me for wanting to take my time."
He grins but then shifts to a more serious tone. "I have another instruction for you."
Liz tilts her head, intrigued. "Another clue?"
Bennett nods. "Beyond the image on the hall, placed on the niche on the wall, I hid something there. Yet another puzzle to bear."
Liz frowns. "What does that mean?"
Bennett only smiles. "You'll figure it out."
Before Liz can press him for more information, everything around her starts to blur. A sense of weightlessness takes over her body. The dream is ending.
Liz wakes up abruptly, gasping for air. Her room is dark except for the faint glow of her bedside lamp. Her hands clutch the blanket tightly. Her breathing is unsteady, and she realizes that there are tears trailing down her cheeks.
She wipes her face, trying to steady herself. The emotions from the dream still cling to her, heavy and unshakable. Slowly, she turns her head and reaches for Bennett's picture on her desk. Without thinking, she presses a soft kiss to the photo, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I love you… and I miss you."
She takes a deep breath, her heart still aching. With renewed determination, she pulls the notebook closer to her and flips the pages. She has to keep reading. She has to understand more.
There's something hidden. Something waiting to be discovered. And she is determined to find it.
Another school day. She sighs, then gets out of her room, readying herself for breakfast.
As she enters the kitchen, her grandma is already setting the table.
"Good morning, Liz. Eat up. We're leaving soon for Ciudad Fernandina."
Liz nods, sitting down to eat. She barely touches her food, still lost in thought about last night's dream. The key. The inscription. What could it mean? She shakes her head, deciding she will figure it out later.
After breakfast, she and her grandma take their usual commute. The streets of Ciudad Fernandina are busy as always, vendors setting up their stalls while students rush to school. As they arrive at the school gate, Liz notices Wyn is absent. Strange. He's never late. Shrugging it off, she heads inside.
Walking through the hallway, something catches her attention. An image of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus stands at the end of the corridor, but it looks worn out—chipped paint, faded colors. A pang of guilt hits her. She had never really paid attention to it before.
Liz steps closer, bowing her head in prayer.
"Hail Mary, full of grace…" She murmurs the words softly. As she finishes, something inside her compels her to reach behind the image. Her fingers brush against something cold. A key.
She pulls it out and examines it. The inscription reads, Niño de Ciudad Fernandina. Her heart pounds. Another clue. But what does it mean?
Lunchtime arrives, and Liz finds herself at the Central Plaza, alone. She buys food from a nearby stall and sits down to eat. As she takes a bite, she sees movement out of the corner of her eye. The same beggar kids from her dream. They look at her with expectant eyes.
A flashback rushes through her mind.
She sees herself as a child—selfish, stubborn, always taking what she wanted without sharing. Bennett had always been the opposite. One particular memory surfaces: she had a chocolate bar, and Bennett had asked for a piece.
"No," Liz had said, hugging it to herself.
Bennett had sighed. "Why not?"
She hadn't responded, only looking away.
"Liz, sharing is giving," he had explained. "If you love someone, you want to give them what makes you happy too."
In the end, she had reluctantly broken the chocolate in half and handed it to him.
The memory fades, and she stares at the hungry children in front of her. Without hesitation, she stands up, goes to the stall, and orders food for them.
That night, Liz falls asleep quickly, and the dream begins.
She finds herself in Bennett's room again. He's sitting on the bed, holding his phone, scrolling through something. He looks up and smiles as soon as he sees her.
"I'm proud of you," Bennett says. "You've learned what true charity is. Charity is one way you show your love to God. And that is one of the means in service, serving other people as serving God as well. And I haven't seen anything like that from you. Congratulations my love, I'm proud of you of what you did, a true virtue of the Catholic Church."
Liz smirks and, without warning, jumps on him, slamming him onto the bed in a tight hug. She peppers his face with kisses.
"I missed you, you know that?"
Bennett chuckles. "I know."
Liz pulls away and holds up the key.
"I found this. What does it mean?"
Bennett takes it from her, turning it over in his fingers before handing it back.
"Wait for the third Sunday of January, and you'll know."
Liz's eyes widen. "That's the Feast of the Holy Child of Prague."
Bennett smiles. "Exactly."
Before Liz can ask more, Bennett snaps his fingers, and the scene shifts. They are now in Escolta, the historic street lined with old buildings and bustling shops. Liz gasps in delight.
"A dream date?" she asks, turning to him.
Bennett grins.
"Only for you."
Liz beams as they stroll hand in hand, exploring the shops, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, and laughing together, lost in their own world.