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Chapter XV: A Lesson Learned
The morning after the storm dawns clear and bright, but for Liz, the chaos seems far from over. She sits on the edge of her bed, scrolling mindlessly through her phone, when a post from the local electric company catches her eye:
"NOTICE: Power interruption in Ciudad Fernandina from 7:00 AM to 12:00 NN due to scheduled maintenance. Thank you for your understanding."
Liz groans audibly, dropping her phone onto the mattress.
"Why did I even bother waking up early?" she mutters to herself.
Before she can stew in her frustration, her phone vibrates with a new message. It's Wyn, her ever-energetic friend.
Wyn: "Good morning! Did the storm bother you last night? I hope you're okay!"
Liz sighs, typing back a curt reply.
"I'm fine, but I just saw there's no current until noon. What's the point of getting up early if it's going to be so inconvenient?"
Wyn's response is almost immediate.
"Nooo, you can't just go back to bed! You'll be fine without electricity, I promise. Think of it as... unplugged productivity?"
Liz rolls her eyes and types back.
"Whatever, I'm going back to sleep. Bye."
Before she can toss her phone aside, another message pops up.
"Fine, but don't oversleep, okay? You've got this, Liz!"
Liz flops back onto her bed, determined to get a few more hours of rest. However, just as she's drifting off, the bedroom door creaks open, and Dominga's voice slices through her would-be slumber.
"Liz! Get up! You've got a quiz this afternoon."
Liz bolts upright, her irritation mounting.
"A quiz? Seriously? Of all days?"
Dominga shrugs, unfazed by Liz's rising temper.
"Well, that's not my problem. You should be glad you didn't sleep through it entirely."
Liz clenches her fists, ready to snap, but her gaze falls on Bennett's framed picture sitting on her nightstand. His calm, smiling face seems to radiate reassurance. She takes a deep breath, letting the anger dissipate.
Dominga notices and smirks.
"Is that your new anger management strategy? Staring at Bennett's picture until you chill out?"
Liz shoots her a mock glare.
"Maybe it is. Got a problem with that?"
Dominga chuckles.
"Not at all. Whatever works for you."
In the living room, Liz sits with her books spread out across the coffee table. Dominga hovers nearby, glancing at Liz's notes and occasionally offering input.
"Okay, let's start reviewing," Dominga says, tapping the edge of a textbook.
Liz scans the pages, her brow furrowed in concentration. As she flips through the material, something about the lesson feels familiar. It's as if she's seen it all before.
And then, like a wave, a memory washes over her.
It's a quiet afternoon, and the storm outside is a distant rumble. Bennett is sitting across from Liz at the dining table, a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other. His glasses slide down the bridge of his nose as he leans forward to explain an equation.
"You see, Liz," he says patiently, "this is where you usually get stuck. But if you break it down like this, it's actually pretty simple."
Liz leans on her elbow, staring at him with a mix of admiration and mild frustration. "You make it look easy."
"That's because I've practiced it a lot," Bennett says with a grin. "You can do this too. Let's try another one."
In the background, Dominga and Dolores are bustling around the house, sweeping floors and folding laundry. Every so often, their conversation drifts into the dining area.
"Bennett's so patient with her," Dominga whispers to Dolores, nodding toward the pair.
Dolores chuckles.
"If only we had a tutor like him back in our day. I'd have passed math with flying colors."
As the hours tick by, Liz grows visibly tired, her head dipping lower until she's practically lying on the table.
Bennett notices and sets his notebook aside.
"Hold on," he says, disappearing briefly into the living room.
When he returns, he's carrying a pillow. He places it gently under Liz's head.
"There. Take a quick break. You've earned it."
Liz looks up at him, her eyes heavy with exhaustion but full of gratitude. "Thanks, Bennett. You're the best."
He smiles and ruffles her hair.
"Anything for you."
The memory fades, and Liz blinks, finding herself back in the present. The warmth of the flashback lingers, motivating her to focus on her review.
Dominga, noticing her renewed determination, raises an eyebrow.
"What's with the sudden energy boost?"
Liz smiles softly, her fingers tracing the edge of her notebook.
"Just remembering someone who believed I could do this."
Dominga smirks.
"Let me guess—your magical calming tool, Bennett?"
Liz laughs, shaking her head.
"Something like that."
Together, they dive back into the lessons, Liz's focus unwavering as the hours pass. Though the power is still out, the light inside her burns bright, fueled by the memory of someone who's always been her source of strength.
After wrapping up her review session with Dominga, Liz takes a deep breath and decides it's time to get ready for the day. She heads to the bathroom, letting the cold water snap her fully awake. By the time she steps out, she feels lighter—refreshed and ready to tackle the afternoon quiz.
Her grandma, already dressed and waiting in the living room, calls out,
"Liz, don't forget your notes!"
"I've got them, Abuelita," Liz replies, slipping the notebook into her bag.
They make their way to Ciudad Fernandina under the sweltering heat of the late morning sun. Liz glances out the jeepney window, absentmindedly watching the bustling streets. Despite the mundane scenery, her thoughts are on the quiz ahead—and the flashback of Bennett, whose patient guidance lingered in her mind.
When they arrive at the school gate, Liz's eyes light up at the sight of Wyn standing near the entrance.
"Wyn!" Liz waves.
Wyn looks up, grinning.
"Hey, Liz! Ready for the quiz?"
Liz narrows her eyes.
"I was about to ask you that. Did you even review?"
Panic flashes across Wyn's face.
"Oh no! I forgot!" She fumbles for her notebook, flipping through the pages in a frenzy.
Liz smirks.
"Figures."
"Don't mock me! You know I hate quizzes!" Wyn pouts, her eyes darting over her notes as if speed-reading would somehow help her absorb everything in the next five minutes.
A few minutes later, they're seated in their classroom, and the quiz begins. Liz grips her pen, her eyes scanning the questions. She takes a deep breath, recalling the review session with Dominga and, more importantly, the lessons Bennett patiently explained to her.
His voice echoes in her mind:
"Break it down into smaller parts, Liz. Don't overthink it."
Fueled by the memory, Liz answers each question with clarity. Before she knows it, the quiz is over.
As they step out of the classroom, Wyn groans.
"Ugh, that was torture. Please tell me we're done for the day."
Liz chuckles.
"We are. Let's go to the monument."
Their usual spot at the monument offers shade and a quiet reprieve from the bustling campus. Liz takes out her phone, opening a shopping app.
"What are you doing now?" Wyn asks, leaning over to peek at the screen.
"Looking at things for my future course," Liz replies casually, scrolling through items.
Wyn's jaw drops.
"Wait, what? Since when are you into that stuff?"
Liz's words trigger a flood of memories for Wyn.
In her mind, Wyn sees a younger Liz sitting on the couch, phone pressed to her ear.
"Yes, I'll take the set. How much? One thousand? Sure, I'll send the payment."
Wyn had peeked over Liz's shoulder, curious.
"What did you order this time?"
Liz hesitated, trying to hide her screen.
"Nothing... important."
"Uh-huh. Let me see." Wyn grabbed the phone, revealing pages of fandom merchandise.
A few days later, Bennett noticed Liz acting suspiciously. She avoided his gaze whenever he walked into the room. Finally, he confronted her.
"Liz, what's going on? What's all that stuff you keep hiding?"
Liz mumbled an excuse and hurried off to the canteen, leaving her phone behind. Bennett turned to Wyn.
"Do you know what's up with her?"
Wyn sighed.
"It's merch, Bennett. She's been spending on it like crazy."
When Liz returned, Bennett gently pulled her aside.
"Liz, we need to talk."
She crossed her arms defensively.
"What now?"
"I get it—you're passionate about your interests," Bennett said.
"But you need to understand the consequences of spending recklessly."
His tone was firm but kind.
"What happens when you run out of money for things you actually need?"
Liz groaned.
"You sound like my grandma."
Bennett laughed softly.
"Maybe because she's right. But hey, I'm not here to stop you—I just want you to think about it. Balance is key."
Liz brushed him off, but her spending spiraled out of control. She ignored her guardians' warnings, convinced she could handle it. That is, until one seller, frustrated by Liz's delayed payments, posted a public rant about her on social media.
The backlash was brutal. Liz felt humiliated, but Bennett stayed by her side, comforting her as she tearfully explained the situation.
Later that day, Wyn approached Bennett while Liz was being picked up by her grandma.
"Bennett," she asked, "why are you so patient with her?"
He smiled, gazing at Liz as she walked away.
"Because I believe in her. She may not realize it now, but there's a time for everything. She'll learn. We don't always get what we want, but eventually, we find what we need."
His words stuck with Wyn.
The next day, Liz canceled her pending orders and started managing her finances better—all thanks to Bennett's gentle guidance.
Wyn snaps back to reality, shaking her head as if to clear the vivid flashback.
Liz notices and smirks.
"You okay? Looks like you were the one having a flashback this time."
Wyn laughs.
"Maybe I was. I was just thinking about how far you've come."
Liz smiles warmly.
"I couldn't have done it without Bennett."
They sit in comfortable silence for a moment before Wyn remarks,
"He really is a good man."
Liz nods, her voice soft.
"He always knows what's best for me."
The two friends share a moment of quiet reflection, their thoughts on the man who had made such a lasting impact on their lives.
"I miss him," Wyn says quietly.
"Me too," Liz replies. "Every day."
But instead of sadness, their words are filled with gratitude. Bennett's presence may have been a memory, but his influence was a constant guide in their lives.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrcGytbSRN
