After the departure of the judges, Michael exhaled deeply, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. The irony of having Francis Peralta, the CEO of Solar Dynamics Corporation—who had previously dismissed his solar panel as a counterfeit—serve as one of the judges, had not escaped him. This twist of fate seemed to diminish his chances of triumphing in the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) competition for product exhibition.
Nonetheless, Michael refused to be disheartened. He remained at his station, his resolve undiminished, continuing to engage with the influx of intrigued students from various universities. Each explanation he provided, detailing the mechanics and the potential of his high-efficiency solar panel, was met with growing interest and admiration.
And as he was doing that, a familiar face approached his station.
"Oh…so here you are huh?" Kenneth said, smiling warmly at him.