Unspoken

The Art Competiton

It was finally Friday—the day of the much-anticipated art competition. The school's central hall was transformed into a vibrant creative space. Long tables stretched across the room, each occupied by students of various grades, focused intently on their canvases, sketchpads, and materials. The air smelled faintly of paints and sharpened pencils, blending with the quiet murmurs of students discussing their art.

The judges—Miss Rosa Catalano, the principal, Mrs. Gabriela Josefa Segovia y Gómez de Avellaneda, and the music teacher, Mr. Francisco Aguilar—walked around the room, observing the young artists with keen interest. Their expressions varied from nods of approval to intrigued curiosity.

"Focus, everyone. Let your creativity flow," Miss Rosa said with a warm smile, her voice echoing softly through the room. "Remember, this is about expressing yourself, not perfection."

Mrs. Gabriela, her glasses perched delicately on her nose, added, "We're here to see the passion behind your work, not just the technique."

In one corner of the room, Selena sat quietly, her sketchpad open, pencil moving in swift, confident strokes. Her face was calm, but her mind raced. She had kept her project a secret all week, and now it was time to bring her vision to life. Beside her, Ana was busy blending shades of green and blue on her canvas, creating a tranquil nature scene.

"Selena," Ana whispered, nudging her gently. "Your sketch looks incredible already. What is it, though?"

Selena smiled mysteriously. "You'll see when it's done. I don't want to spoil it yet."

"Ugh, you're so secretive!" Ana, seated on the other side, leaned in. "Come on, give me a hint at least."

Selena chuckled, brushing an errant strand of hair from her face. "Nope. You'll just have to wait like everyone else."

Meanwhile, in the schoolyard, the non-participants from Grade 8A were in their games period. The field buzzed with energy as students played football, dodgeball, and tag. Rafael was in the middle of a heated football match, his competitive streak evident in his focused gaze as he sprinted toward the ball.

"Hey, pass it here!" Rafael shouted to Alejandro, who smirked and pretended to fumble the ball just to tease him.

"Relax, Rafael," Alejandro teased, kicking the ball over. "You're acting like it's the World Cup."

"Shut up and play," Rafael snapped back, though a small grin tugged at his lips.

Nearby, Olivia sat on the bleachers, half-watching the game and half-lost in thought. Her eyes occasionally darted toward the art hall's windows.

"Still thinking about her?" Adriana asked, flopping down beside her with a bottle of water.

Olivia shrugged, trying to play it cool. "No. Just curious what she's sketching, that's all."

Adriana raised an eyebrow. "Sure, sure. Totally not jealous of her and Daniel being all buddy-buddy, right?"

"Shut up," Olivia muttered, rolling her eyes.

Back in the art hall, Miss Rosa clapped her hands gently to signal the halfway mark. "Thirty minutes left, everyone! Make sure you're adding those final touches!"

Selena glanced at the clock, her hand moving faster as she added depth and shading to her portrait. Ana peeked over her shoulder again. "Selena, this is... breathtaking."

"Thanks," Selena murmured, her cheeks warming slightly.

The judges stopped by their table, their gazes lingering on both Ana's serene landscape and Selena's intricate sketch. Mrs. Gabriela leaned closer to Selena's work, her expression unreadable but deeply attentive.

"This competition is going to be tough," Francisco said softly, folding his arms.

Miss Rosa smiled proudly at her students. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The clock ticked down, the room buzzing with concentrated energy. The art hall was filled with stories—both on the canvases and in the minds of its creators.

As the judges carefully collected the finished artwork, they moved around the room, nodding in approval and offering words of encouragement. Miss Rosa stopped briefly at Selena and Ana's table.

"Beautiful work, both of you," she said warmly, her gaze lingering on their respective creations. "The results will be announced on Monday, so stay tuned. And great job to everyone today!"

The room filled with a mix of murmured excitement and nervous whispers. Some students exchanged glances, while others speculated about the possible winners. Selena and Ana walked out of the hall together, chatting as the late afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows.

"Do you think any of the little kids will win?" Ana asked, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

"Maybe," Selena replied. "Some of their work was really creative. I loved that abstract piece by the girl from Grade 6—it was bold."

"Yeah, but did you see that boy's drawing?" Ana scrunched her nose. "He made a flying taco. I mean, I love tacos, but really?"

Selena laughed. "Well, at least it was unique!"

Ana grinned. "Speaking of unique, what about yours? I didn't get a proper look, but it seemed so... detailed. Who was that girl in your sketch?"

Selena stiffened for a moment but quickly masked it with a small smile. "You'll find out on Monday if I win," she teased. "Or you'll see it in the exhibition."

Ana huffed playfully. "Fine, keep your secrets. But seriously, your sketch was amazing. If anyone deserves first place, it's you."

Selena shook her head. "No way. Your painting was stunning, Ana. The colors were so vibrant—it looked like it belonged in a gallery. You deserve first place."

The two girls laughed, the tension from earlier dissipating as they entered their classroom. Mr. Alejandro Ruiz, their Spanish teacher, was already at the front, organizing some papers on his desk. He glanced up as they walked in.

"Where have you two been?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We were at the art competition," Ana replied cheerfully, taking her seat.

"Oh, the famous art competition," Mr. Ruiz said with mock seriousness, leaning on his desk. "How did it go? Did you paint the next Mona Lisa?"

Selena grinned shyly. "It was great, sir. We worked really hard on our pieces."

Ana nodded. "And Selena's work was amazing—you should have seen it!"

"Ah, so we have a budding artist in our midst," Mr. Ruiz said, pretending to appraise Selena like a critic. "Well, I expect nothing less than international fame from you two. Maybe a painting of me someday?"

The class chuckled, and Marco, sitting at the back, whispered to Juan, "Mister Ruiz as a painting? That's terrifying."

Juan smirked. "If anyone paints him, it better be abstract. Realism would be a disaster."

"Alright, enough of my art career," Mr. Ruiz said, clapping his hands. "Take your seats. Let's dive into today's lesson."

As the students opened their notebooks, he launched into a passionate explanation of Spanish poetry. Ana leaned over to Selena and whispered, "If you win, promise me you'll draw Mr. Ruiz's portrait. Maybe with flying tacos in the background."

Selena stifled a laugh. "Deal."

The class proceeded with its usual blend of seriousness and scattered whispers of humor, but Selena's thoughts kept drifting back to her sketch and what Monday would bring.

What is Selena's secret sketch, and why is she hiding it—who could the mysterious girl in her drawing be?