Mid-semester.
Classes were intense. Projects were piling up. Sleep was a distant memory.
But Jay and Keifer had something else to deal with.
A business proposal.
---
It started with a meeting at Watson Enterprises.
Serina called them into her office. Jasfer was there too. Serious expressions.
Serina: "Sit down, both of you."
Jay: "What's going on?"
Keifer: "Is everything okay?"
Jasfer: "Everything's fine. Better than fine, actually."
Serina: "We've received a proposal. A merger offer."
Jay: "A merger?"
Serina: "With Marquez Industries."
Keifer: "Marquez? The international conglomerate?"
Jasfer: "The very same."
Jay: "That's huge."
Serina: "It is. And we want you two to handle it."
Silence.
Jay: "Us?"
Keifer: "Handle it?"
Serina: "You're Co-CEOs now. This is your first real test."
Jasfer: "Think of it as a trial by fire."
Jay: "A trial by FIRE?"
Jasfer: "Metaphorically."
Serina: "Mostly."
Jay and Keifer looked at each other.
Jay: "Together?"
Keifer: "Together."
Jay: "Okay."
Keifer: "Okay."
Serina smiled. "That's my children."
Jasfer: "OUR children."
Serina: "Same thing?"
Jasfer: "Same thing."
---
The news spread fast.
Section E gathered at the Fernandez house that night.
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY AND BROTHER KEIFER ARE HANDLING A HUGE MERGER!"
Rakki: "How do you know?"
Ci-n: "PERCY TOLD ME!"
Percy was on video call. "I HAVE SOURCES!"
Rakki: "Your sources are Ci-n."
Percy: "CI-N IS RELIABLE!"
Ci-n: "I AM!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Never change."
Mica: "This is amazing, you two."
Calix: "Really amazing."
Freya: "Impressive."
Edrix: "Very impressive."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've researched Marquez Industries. They're legitimate. Strong reputation."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on how long the negotiations take."
David: "Three weeks. 500."
Drew: "Bold."
Eren: "Wait, you're doing business stuff? Like grown-up business?"
Josh nodded. Gave a thumbs up.
Baster hummed a "business anthem."
Aries and Ella arrived late.
Aries: "Heard you're taking over the world."
Ella: "Starting with a merger."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Jay: "We're just handling a proposal."
Aries: "Just?"
Keifer: "It's a lot."
Aries: "You've got this."
Jay: "Thanks."
Aries: "Don't make it weird."
Keifer: "Tss."
Aries: "Not you too."
Keifer: "Me too."
Aries: "I hate you."
Keifer: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
---
The next week was chaos.
Meetings. Calls. Emails. Negotiations.
Jay and Keifer worked around the clock.
Tita Gema brought food to their "office" (the dining table). "EAT! YOU'RE TOO THIN!"
Jasfer: "They're not thin."
Tita Gema: "THEY ARE TO ME! EAT!"
Jay's grandma watched from her rocking chair. "BUSINESS! I REMEMBER BUSINESS! I ONCE SOLD LEMONADE FOR FIVE CENTS!"
Keigan: "Lola, that's not the same."
Jay's grandma: "IT'S THE PRINCIPLE!"
Keiren: "What principle?"
Jay's grandma: "I DON'T KNOW! BUT IT SOUNDS GOOD!"
Grazel Jay brought "business flowers."
Grazel Jay: "FLOWERS FOR SUCCESS!"
Denzel: "She's been practicing."
Grace: "All week."
Grazel Jay: "WORTH IT!"
---
The final meeting arrived.
Jay and Keifer walked into the conference room. Matching blue outfits. Matching confidence.
The Marquez representatives were impressed.
Mr. Marquez: "So you're the young CEOs we've heard about."
Jay: "We are."
Keifer: "Jay Mariano and Keifer Watson."
Mr. Marquez: "Impressive reputations."
Jay: "Thank you."
Mr. Marquez: "Let's see if you live up to them."
---
Two hours later.
The deal was done.
Jay and Keifer walked out. Tired. Victorious.
Serina and Jasfer waited outside.
Serina: "Well?"
Jay: "Done."
Keifer: "Signed."
Jasfer: "YES!"
Serina hugged them both.
Serina: "I'm so proud of you."
Jay: "Thanks, Mom."
Keifer: "Thanks."
Serina: "You're natural leaders."
Jay: "We had good teachers."
Serina: "Smooth."
Jay: "Honest."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop."
Keifer: "No."
---
Celebration at the Fernandez house.
Section E arrived. Food appeared. Music played.
Ci-n: "THEY DID IT! THEY CONQUERED BUSINESS!"
Rakki: "They handled a meeting."
Ci-n: "SAME THING!"
Percy: "JAYFER BUSINESS EDITION! DOCUMENTING!"
Mica: "This calls for dancing."
Calix: "Always dancing."
Freya: "I don't dance."
Edrix: "You danced at prom."
Freya: "That was different."
Edrix: "How?"
Freya: "I don't know. It just was."
Edrix: "Tss."
Freya: "Did you just—"
Edrix: "Maybe."
Freya: "...Fine."
They danced.
Sort of.