Unspoken

The Mysterious Sketch

The exhibition hall buzzed with excitement as the students filed in, eager to view the artwork that had been ranked and displayed. The paintings and sketches were arranged prominently, with the top five ranked pieces showcased at the front in perfect order. Beyond that, the remaining artworks were arranged randomly, each waiting to be admired for its creativity.

The crowd moved steadily, murmurs and whispers filling the air as students pointed at and discussed the various pieces.

When the group reached the top five paintings, everyone paused to admire them. The breathtaking first-place painting by Sophia Diaz, a vibrant depiction of a family picnic scene, still held everyone's awe. Next to it was Ana's serene natural landscape and Luna's whimsical fairytale-inspired piece, both tied for second place. The third-place artwork, Caspian Vargas's depiction of a bustling market, received much admiration for its intricate detail.

The attention then shifted to the artwork ranked fifth—a striking and detailed sketch. Students gasped audibly as they took it in.

"Wow, that looks so real!" one girl whispered, nudging her friend.

"It's incredible!" another said, her eyes wide.

But soon, their amazement turned to curiosity as they began murmuring. "Doesn't it look like someone we know?"

"Wait..." a boy leaned closer, squinting at the drawing. "Isn't that... Olivia?"

The whisper spread like wildfire, and students began glancing at Olivia, who stood a few spots back in the line with Adriana. Their looks weren't subtle either—pointing fingers and sideways glances made it clear who they thought the girl in the sketch resembled.

Olivia noticed the stares and furrowed her brows. "Why is everyone looking at me?" she whispered to Adriana, who was just as confused.

"I don't know," Adriana said, craning her neck to see over the crowd. "But they're definitely talking about you."

"Do you think someone made a sketch of me?" Olivia asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and unease.

"Looks like it. Everyone's staring at that one," Adriana replied, nodding toward the fifth-place artwork.

As they moved closer, Olivia caught more snippets of conversation.

"That's definitely her!" a girl whispered loudly.

"Yeah, the eyes and everything—it's Olivia for sure!" another boy added.

By now, Olivia's heartbeat quickened. She turned to Adriana, her voice low. "Why would someone do that? And who even..." She trailed off, her mind racing.

Adriana tried to lighten the mood. "It's not bad, though. I mean, look how good it is. Whoever drew it is clearly talented."

Olivia wasn't convinced. "But why wouldn't they tell me? It's just... weird."

The line moved again, and Olivia found herself standing directly in front of the sketch. Her breath caught in her throat.

The artwork was stunning, capturing every detail with remarkable precision. From the soft waves of hair to the thoughtful expression, it was unmistakably her. She stared at it, unable to look away.

Adriana leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Wow. Olivia, it's beautiful. But who drew it?"

"I don't know," Olivia muttered, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes scanned the corner of the sketch for a signature or a name, but there was nothing.

Behind her, Natalia couldn't resist teasing. "Looks like someone has a secret admirer," she said with a sly grin.

"Or a stalker," added Carlos, chuckling from a few feet away.