Graduation day arrived with sunshine and tears.
The Fernandez house was chaos—the good kind.
Tita Gema had prepared a feast for after the ceremony. Jasfer was trying to find his good camera. Serina was making sure everyone had their togas. Jay's grandma was in her rocking chair, already crying.
Jay's grandma: "MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE GRADUATING! I'M SO PROUD!"
Keigan: "Lola, you've been crying since breakfast."
Jay's grandma: "I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS!"
Keiren: "We noticed."
Grazel Jay ran around throwing graduation flowers. "FLOWERS FOR GRADUATION! FLOWERS FOR EVERYONE!"
Denzel: "She's been at it since 6 AM."
Grace: "The garden is empty."
Denzel: "Worth it."
Jay stood in front of the mirror.
Toga. Cap. Hair done. Ready.
Keifer appeared behind her.
Keifer: "You look..."
Jay: "I look what?"
Keifer: "Like a graduate."
Jay: "That's all?"
Keifer: "Like MY graduate."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
The ceremony was at the school gym.
Families filled the seats. Section E sat together, buzzing with energy.
Ci-n: "WE'RE GRADUATING! ACTUAL GRADUATING!"
Rakki: "Keep it down."
Ci-n: "I CAN'T! EMOTIONS!"
Percy was in the audience, camera ready. Honey beside him.
Percy: "THIS IS HISTORIC! CI-N, WAVE!"
Ci-n waved. Percy captured it.
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Dangerous."
Calix: "Chaotic."
Freya: "Loud."
Edrix: "Perfect."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Names were called.
One by one. Section E walked across the stage.
Mica. Calix. Rakki. Freya. Edrix. Rory. Drew. David. Eren. Josh. Baster.
Each one cheered by their family.
Then—
Ci-n's name.
He ran across the stage. Tripped. Caught himself. Waved wildly.
Ci-n: "I DID IT!"
Rakki: "Barely."
Ci-n: "BARELY COUNTS!"
Percy: "DOCUMENTED!"
Then Aries and Ella.
Aries: "We made it."
Ella: "Obviously."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
They walked together.
Then—
Keifer Watson.
He walked calmly. Dignified. Proud.
The crowd cheered. Serina cried. Jasfer whistled. Jay's grandma waved her cane.
Keifer received his diploma. Looked at Jay in the audience.
Smiled.
Then—
Jay Mariano.
She walked gracefully. Confident. Beautiful.
The crowd ERUPTED.
Percy: "JAY! JAY! JAY!"
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY!"
Mica: "THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND!"
Rakki: "THAT'S MY OTHER BEST FRIEND!"
Freya: "She better not trip."
Edrix: "She won't."
Freya: "How do you know?"
Edrix: "She's Jay."
Freya: "...Fair."
Jay reached the stage. Received her diploma.
Looked at Keifer.
He was already looking at her.
Always.
After the ceremony.
Photos. Hugs. Tears.
Serina hugged Jay tight. "I'm so proud of you, anak."
Jay: "Thanks, Mom."
Serina: "You're officially a high school graduate."
Jay: "And Co-CEO."
Serina: "And Co-CEO. Busy girl."
Jay: "Tss."
Serina: "Don't start."
Jay: "Too late."
Keifer appeared. "My turn."
He hugged his mom. Then Jay.
Keifer: "We did it."
Jay: "We did."
Keifer: "Together."
Jay: "Always."
The Fernandez house filled with people.
Food. Music. Laughter.
Section E reunited. Aries and Ella there. Percy and Honey documenting.
Grazel Jay threw the last of her flowers. "GRADUATION FLOWERS! ALL GONE NOW!"
Denzel: "Time to buy more flowers."
Grace: "Time to accept our fate."
Jay and Keifer slipped onto the patio.
Quiet. Stars. Perfect.
Jay: "High school's over."
Keifer: "Finally."
Jay: "What now?"
Keifer: "Everything."
Jay: "Everything?"
Keifer: "You. Me. Watson Enterprises. Future."
Jay: "Sounds good."
Keifer: "Sounds perfect."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Inside, Percy's voice: "THEY'RE KISSING ON THE PATIO! CI-N, COME QUICK!"
Ci-n: "I'M COMING!"
Rakki: "Leave them alone."
Percy: "HISTORY NEVER SLEEPS!"
But they didn't go out.
They watched from the window. Smiled.
Rakki: "They're happy."
Mica: "Really happy."
Calix: "Finally happy."
Freya: "Took them long enough."
Edrix: "Worth the wait."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Jay pulled back. Looked at Keifer.
Jay: "I love you."
Keifer: "I love you too."
Jay: "Forever?"
Keifer: "Forever."
Jay: "Jayfer forever?"
Keifer: "Jayfer forever."
He kissed her again.
And inside, their family watched.
Chaotic. Loud. Perfect.
Just like them.