Chapter XXVII: The Mirror
Liz drifts into sleep, her breathing steady as she succumbs to the weight of exhaustion. As darkness surrounds her, a dim light flickers, illuminating a large, ornate mirror in front of her. The reflection doesn’t show just one image—it splits into two versions of herself.
On the left, she sees a girl with cold eyes, a sneer curling on her lips. This version of her crosses her arms, exuding arrogance and entitlement. Liz watches as this reflection refuses to go to church, lies to her family, and indulges in materialistic desires without concern for others.
On the right, a different Liz stands with a warm expression. She exudes humility, kindness, and a deep concern for those around her. She helps others, listens intently, and offers a gentle smile that brings comfort.
A voice echoes from beyond the mirror, deep and solemn.
“Who are you?”
Liz steps forward, drawn to the selfish version of herself first. The closer she gets, the clearer the scenes play out in the mirror—her grandmother sighing in disappointment, her family growing distant, and worst of all, Bennett.
She gasps. He looks miserable, his usual bright expression replaced with sadness. He stands alone, hurt, abandoned.
Tears well up in Liz’s eyes.
“No…” she whispers. “I didn’t mean to—”
She backs away, turning to the other side of the mirror. Her reflection there radiates warmth. She sees herself comforting her grandmother, making amends, and treating Bennett with the love he deserves. It’s a stark contrast.
“Who are you?” the voice asks again.
Liz clenches her fists.
“I… I was that rude, selfish, arrogant, ignorant, and good-for-nothing girl,” she admits, her voice trembling. “But I reflected… and now, I want to be good again, like the other me. I was so blinded by greed and temptations of materialism, not knowing the importance of love.”
She steps forward, choosing the humble version of herself. The moment her foot crosses into the reflection, the entire world shifts.
The mirror shatters.
The scene changes.
Liz finds herself lying down, her head resting on a familiar lap. She blinks, recognizing the warmth, the scent, the presence—Bennett.
“Bennett!” she gasps, sitting up and throwing her arms around him. Tears spill down her cheeks as she buries her face in his shoulder.
“I miss you so much.”
Bennett chuckles softly, stroking her hair.
“It’s been a while since you’ve cried like this.”
Liz pulls back slightly, looking at him with watery eyes.
“I saw everything… the mirror, the two sides of me. I was horrible, Bennett. I hurt you, Grandma, everyone.”
Bennett shakes his head gently.
“It was the mirror, Liz. A place where the past and future collide. Everyone is hoping for you to change for the better.”
Liz lowers her gaze, guilt weighing on her chest.
“But what if I haven’t changed enough?”
Bennett lifts her chin with a finger.
“You’re trying. That’s what matters.”
She exhales shakily, resting her forehead against his chest.
“I just… I just want to make things right.”
Bennett offers a small smile.
“Then keep going.”
Liz wipes her eyes.
“Do you have another clue for me?”
Bennett nods.
“Listen carefully.” He pauses, then recites:
"It was a room of prayer, gracious woodwork and flooring, not as the present ever, but now it's just for storing."
Liz’s breath catches.
“That place… I’ve seen it before.”
Bennett nods.
“Think, Liz.”
She closes her eyes, the setting from her previous dreams coming to mind. Her eyes fly open.
“It’s the old chapel!”
Bennett smiles.
“You’re on the right path. But in order to get there, you need to follow instructions carefully.”
Liz frowns. “What instructions?”
Bennett places a hand on her shoulder. “They will be revealed in your next dreams.”
Liz reaches for his hands, gripping them tightly. “I don’t want to wake up yet.”
Bennett’s expression softens. “You have to.”
She clutches him in a desperate hug. “Just a little longer.”
Bennett lets her hold on for a moment before whispering, “It’s time.”
Liz presses a lingering kiss to his cheek. “I’ll find you, Bennett.”
The dream fades.
Liz wakes up, tears sliding down her face. Her heart pounds as she sits up, hugging her knees. She doesn’t hesitate. Grabbing a pen and paper, she writes down the latest clue.
Determination fills her chest. “I will find you.”
The weight of her thoughts makes her movements sluggish as she heads downstairs for breakfast.
As she steps down the stairs, her foot slips.
"Ah!" she yelps, grabbing the railing just in time.
Dolores and Dominga, seated at the dining table, immediately stand up.
"Liz, are you okay?" Dominga asks, worry etched on her face.
Liz straightens up and dusts herself off.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," she reassures them with an awkward chuckle. "Just a little trip."
Dolores sighs in relief.
"Careful next time, dear. Now, come eat before your food gets cold."
Liz nods and sits down, her thoughts still cloudy as she picks at her food. The usual morning chatter from her two companions fills the air, but Liz remains quiet, lost in her own mind. After finishing her meal, she thanks them and heads to the bathroom to take a bath.
Once dressed and ready, Liz's grandma appears at the door.
"Come on, I'll take you to the city," she says.
Liz nods, grabbing her bag. As they walk outside, the tricycle driver greets them, and they ride off to school.
At the entrance, Wyn is already waiting for her, leaning against the gate.
"Took you long enough," Wyn teases.
Liz smiles slightly. "Morning to you too."
The two walk inside together, immersing themselves in another day filled with lessons and discussions. Liz tries to focus, but her thoughts keep drifting back to her dream. The image of the mirror, her reflection split into two versions of herself, and Bennett’s comforting words keep replaying in her mind.
As lunchtime arrives, Liz and Wyn find a shaded spot under a tree. Liz takes a deep breath before speaking.
"Wyn, can I ask you something?"
Wyn, in the middle of unwrapping her sandwich, looks at her curiously.
"Of course. What’s up?"
Liz hesitates for a moment, then asks,
"Back then… was I really that rude?"
Wyn raises an eyebrow before letting out a laugh.
"Oh, Liz, you really don’t remember? You were a handful."
Liz frowns slightly.
"Was I really that bad?"
Wyn smirks, leaning back against the tree.
"Let me refresh your memory."
She begins recalling a particular incident from last year, her voice tinged with amusement.
"Remember the time we ate lunch at the plaza?"
Liz listens attentively as Wyn describes the scene. The flashback plays vividly in Liz’s mind:
They are sitting at a table in the plaza, enjoying their lunch. Liz’s eyes wander to a group of seventh graders arguing nearby. She chuckles, amused at their bickering.
"Look at them. So dramatic over a simple lunch."
Wyn, who is focused on her own meal, dips a piece of siomai into a small soy sauce cup. The wind picks up, and before either of them can react, the cup topples over, spilling soy sauce onto Liz’s phone.
Liz gasps in horror.
"No! My phone! Oh my Gosh!" she exclaims, immediately grabbing a napkin to wipe it. "Ugh! Who puts soy sauce on an uneven artificial grass like this?!"
Wyn blinks.
"Uh… me? It’s the wind and not because my name is Wyn to make it Wyn-"
Liz glares at her.
"Seriously, Wyn?"
Before Wyn can respond, Bennett arrives, noticing the commotion.
"Liz, what happened?"
Liz huffs.
"Soy sauce happened."
Bennett sighs and pulls out a pack of tissues and a hand sanitizer.
"Here, use these."
Liz snatches the tissues from his hand, aggressively wiping her phone. Once she’s satisfied, she throws the crumpled tissues at Bennett’s chest.
"There. Clean up your mess."
Without another word, she grabs her bag and storms off, leaving both Wyn and Bennett behind.
The flashback fades, and Liz covers her face in embarrassment.
"Oh my gosh… I was awful."
Wyn laughs. "Yep. And that’s just one of the many times you threw a tantrum."
Liz groans. "Please, don’t tell me there’s more."
Wyn grins mischievously. "Oh, definitely. There was also that time you made Bennett cry."
Liz freezes. "Wait… what?"
Wyn nods. "It was after you got mad at him for something small. You were fuming, and he just… looked so sad. He didn’t say anything, but you could tell it hurt him."
Liz’s heart sinks. She shakes her head, guilt washing over her.
"I feel terrible. I never realized how bad I was."
Wyn places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, that’s the past. What matters is you’ve changed."
Liz looks at her, her eyes filled with regret.
"But I didn’t just change for Bennett. I changed for everyone. For myself."
Wyn nods approvingly.
"And that’s what really counts."
Before they can continue, their phones buzz with a message from Bro. Padilla, instructing them to organize the chapel. They exchange glances before standing up and heading to their task.
Later that night, back home, Liz sits at her desk, staring at a blank sheet of paper. She picks up her pen and begins writing a message for Bennett, reflecting on her dream and the day’s events.
Bennett,
Today, I remembered who I used to be. I can’t believe how much I hurt you, Wyn, and so many others. I was selfish, rude, and blind to the people who truly cared for me. But I promise you, I’ve changed. Not just because of your disappearance, but because I want to be better. I want to be someone who loves, who cherishes, and who gives without expecting anything in return.
I may have your whereabouts now My Love. But I believe, deep in my heart, by following the next set of your instructions by my dreams, I will find you. Until then, I will keep moving forward, learning, and becoming someone you would be proud of.
Liz sets down her pen, her heart feeling lighter. She glances at Bennett’s picture on her nightstand, picks it up, and kisses it gently before setting it back down.
She kneels beside her bed, whispering a quiet prayer. "Please, let him be safe."
With a final sigh, she crawls into bed, hugging a pillow close. As she closes her eyes, she holds onto hope.
Tomorrow is another day. And she is ready to face it.
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