Unspoken

Unleashing Potential

Mr. Carlos stood at the front of the class, his voice energetic and eyes bright as he explained the mysteries of the solar system. His passion was contagious, and Selena, leaned forward, taking in every word.

"Alright, class," Mr. Carlos said, pointing to a model of the planets he'd brought in. "Can anyone tell me why Mercury has such extreme temperature differences between its day and night?"

Selena's hand shot up, a rare move for her since she usually preferred staying under the radar.

"Yes, Selena," he acknowledged with a nod, clearly pleased with her participation.

"Because Mercury doesn't have an atmosphere to trap the heat," Selena answered, her voice clear and steady. "So, during the day, it heats up a lot, but at night, all that heat escapes back into space."

"Perfect!" Mr. Carlos beamed. "Exactly right! Without an atmosphere, there's nothing to insulate the surface. That's why during the day, it can reach up to 430 degrees Celsius, and at night, it drops down to minus 180 degrees."

A few students gasped, and Selena smiled, feeling a surge of satisfaction.

"But wait," he continued, his tone playful, "why can't we see the temperature difference if we look at Mercury from Earth? Any guesses?"

Selena hesitated, considering, but before she could raise her hand again, a voice from the back—Daniel Reyes, the latecomer—called out, "Because space is, like... a vacuum? So heat can't travel from Mercury to Earth?"

Mr. Carlos grinned. "Close enough, Daniel! Heat doesn't travel through space by the usual means, but rather through radiation. However, if you were standing on Mercury, you'd feel that difference pretty quickly." He gave a dramatic shiver for effect, and the class chuckled.

As Mr. Carlos returned to his lecture, Selena exchanged a quick glance with Daniel, surprised by his unexpected answer. For once, she wasn't the only one completely absorbed in the lesson.

Selena's gaze lingered on Daniel for a moment longer, taking in his tall, athletic frame as he relaxed back into his chair with a confident smirk. His black hair was tousled just enough to look effortlessly cool, and his warm brown skin had a natural glow that made him stand out. He was undeniably handsome, with an easy charm that had earned him more than a few admirers in class.

Daniel was rarely alone; his two close friends, Juan Perez and Marco Gomez, sat beside him, both laughing quietly at something he'd whispered. The three of them were practically inseparable, always seen together, and seemed to move through the school like they owned the place. With his sharp mind and playful energy, Daniel had a way of making every situation feel like an adventure. Although he came from a wealthy family, he didn't flaunt it—yet there was an air of confidence about him that hinted at his privileged background.

Selena wondered what it would be like to be part of his world, but she quickly turned her attention back to Mr. Carlos, determined not to let herself be distracted.

Mr. Carlos paused, his eyes glinting with enthusiasm as he scanned the room. "Alright, here's a scenario for you. Imagine you're in a spaceship halfway to Mars, and your navigation system suddenly fails. There's no way to contact Earth. What would you do first?"

Selena's hand shot up, along with Rafael's, and Mr. Carlos gestured to her. "Selena, let's start with you."

Selena sat up straighter. "I'd check for any emergency backups or see if there's a way to reset the system manually. It's best to troubleshoot and look for backup options before doing anything else."

"Smart thinking, Selena," Mr. Carlos said, nodding. "Calm and systematic. Now, Rafael, let's hear your approach."

Rafael, seated in the middle row, spoke confidently. "I'd try to locate Mars by using the stars as a guide, maybe estimate the direction by sight. That way, I could keep moving and not lose time if the system doesn't restart."