The Offer from the Faculty

The four were escorted by the professors to the consultation room inside the Mechanical Engineering faculty.

"Take a seat," Calerio gestured to the vacant seats around the rectangular table to which the four complied.

Abad Santos and Lucena also took their seats with Calerio taking the seat at the head of the table.

"You must be wondering, why I have requested for a discussion with you four," Calerio said, eyeing the four of them.

"Is it because you want to congratulate us privately?" Matthew said.

Calerio shook his head. "Partially but there are other reasons. Like the prototype that you have built there, it's going to break the news. You know, there's not many students who could actually make a working automobile, let alone having a possibility of it being commercialized."

Abad Santos cleared his throat, interjecting before Calerio could continue. "We plan on announcing your achievement to the media, but we also need to prepare you for what comes next. This project has the potential to attract significant attention—not just from the media, but from investors, automotive companies, and even government agencies."

Lucena leaned forward, her expression serious. "This isn't just about you anymore. It's about representing the university, the engineering program, and what students can achieve with the right support and determination. You're stepping into a much larger spotlight."

Matthew exchanged glances with Samantha, Saimon, and Leo. "We're grateful for the recognition, but... what exactly are you expecting from us?"

Calerio folded his hands on the table, his tone calm but firm. "We want you to consider presenting the prototype at a national engineering expo next month. It's a prestigious event where innovators, companies, and universities showcase their work. This could be the perfect platform to launch your project into the public eye."

Leo sat up straighter. "Wait, you're saying we'd be presenting in front of professionals? Like, real engineers and industry leaders?"

"Yes," Lucena confirmed. "You'd have the chance to network with people who could help take your project to the next level."

Saimon rubbed the back of his neck, visibly anxious. "That sounds... intense. What's in it for us?"

"Well, you guys are graduating students right? And the only thing that is barring you from that is to pass the course of Capstone 1 and 2," Calerio said.

"But we already passed that, sir, you promised that to us before we defended our papers," Matthew chimed.

"That is correct, you already passed Capstone 1 and 2. We are a man of our word. We are offering something different. If you participate in that expo next month, the university will be willing to give you cash." 

"Cash?" Saimon's eyes lit up. "How much are we talking here?"

"Oh…I truly piqued your interest huh?" Calerio said, smiling at Saimon.

Calerio leaned back in his chair, his smile widening as he saw the team's curiosity pique. 

"Let's just say, it's more than enough to cover all the expenses you've incurred during this project—and then some. The university is prepared to award your team a grant of ₱500,000 if you successfully present at the expo and demonstrate the prototype's capabilities."

The room went silent for a moment, the figure hanging in the air like a tantalizing prize.

"Five hundred thousand pesos?" Leo finally blurted out, wide-eyed. "You're not joking, are you, sir?"

"No, Mr. Navarro, I'm not joking," Calerio replied. "This is a serious opportunity. The university sees your project as not just a potential win for you, but a significant achievement for the institution. If your prototype gains recognition at the expo, it elevates all of us."

Calerio leaned back in his chair, his smile widening as he saw the team's curiosity pique. "Let's just say, it's more than enough to cover all the expenses you've incurred during this project—and then some. The university is prepared to award your team a grant of ₱500,000 if you successfully present at the expo and demonstrate the prototype's capabilities."

The room went silent for a moment, the figure hanging in the air like a tantalizing prize.

"Five hundred thousand pesos?" Leo finally blurted out, wide-eyed. "You're not joking, are you, sir?"

"No, Mr. Navarro, I'm not joking," Calerio replied. "This is a serious opportunity. The university sees your project as not just a potential win for you, but a significant achievement for the institution. If your prototype gains recognition at the expo, it elevates all of us."

Matthew, ever the pragmatic one, leaned forward. "Sir, aside from the cash grant, will the university provide additional support for the presentation? I mean, there's still a lot of polishing we could do to make the EV stand out."

Lucena nodded approvingly. "A good question. Yes, we'll allocate resources to ensure your presentation is professional. This includes access to our multimedia team for a polished presentation deck, assistance from faculty for technical refinements, and covering transportation and logistics costs for bringing the EV to the expo."

"That's a lot of support," Samantha said, her voice calm but thoughtful. "But it also means added pressure. If we agree to this, we can't afford to make a single mistake."

"That's true," Abad Santos interjected. "You'll be under scrutiny from some of the best minds in the industry. But let me tell you this: challenges like these can make or break future leaders. Based on what we've seen today, I believe you're up to the task."

Saimon leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin as he considered. "Half a million pesos and a shot at national recognition? Sounds like a no-brainer to me."

Matthew turned to Samantha, his expression unreadable. "What do you think, Sergeant?"

Samantha crossed her arms, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room. "It's a big commitment, but it's also a big opportunity. If we're going to do this, we need to go all in. No half-measures."

Leo grinned. "I'm in. Let's go all in."

Matthew looked at Saimon, who nodded enthusiastically. "Same here."

Finally, Matthew turned back to Calerio. "Alright, sir. We're in."

Calerio smiled, satisfied. "That's what I wanted to hear. We'll begin preparations immediately. Meet us here Monday morning to go over the finer details. You'll have faculty advisors assigned to help with your presentation and technical work."

"Understood," Matthew replied.

Calerio stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Good. That's all for now. Get some rest this weekend—you're going to need it."