I Took a Gangster Exam (2)

A Familiar Face

Leo, looking awkward and restless, tried to hide behind the tall guy next to him, as if shrinking into his own shadow. But Susan spotted him instantly. Her eyes lit up, surprised to see a familiar face in such a strange and tense place.

"Hey, Leo! What are you doing here?" Susan called out, her voice sharp but warm, carrying a mix of curiosity and excitement. "I heard you got expelled from school. What happened?"

For a split second, Leo's chest tightened. He forced an awkward smile, though inside, panic was already brewing.

Suspicion Rising

The other four guys immediately turned their heads toward Leo, their expressions shifting into suspicion.

"You know her?" one of them asked, narrowing his eyes.

Leo's pulse skipped. He glanced at them, then at Canelo—silent, observant, like a judge waiting for his answer.

"Of course not! Why would I know her? Look at her—she's obviously a student. Me? I don't even go to school," Leo blurted, shaking his head so fast it was almost cartoonish.

Susan's smile froze, her brow furrowing as a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes.

The Wrong Word

Susan blinked, trying to make sense of Leo's odd reaction. What's wrong with him? Did he hit his head or something? Or did getting expelled mess him up this badly?

Leo drew in a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and forced himself to look tough, like this was part of a script he didn't fully understand. Then, with sudden bravado, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Hey! You over there! We're here to… r@pe you!"

The moment the word left his mouth, time seemed to stop. Oh crap… I meant rob, not that! Leo screamed inside his own head, his face paling. For a moment, everyone froze—Susan, the punks, even Leo himself were stunned by what had just come out.

An Unexpected Admiration

From a distance, Canelo paused, his mind processing what he had just heard. Did this kid seriously just say that?

Yet, instead of getting mad, something about Leo's sheer absurdity impressed him. As ridiculous as the words sounded, they carried a strange, fearless energy. What a guy! he thought. This kid's got guts—maybe even the potential to be a real gang boss someday.

Canelo rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing in curiosity, studying Leo as if he'd just uncovered a raw but dangerous talent.

Chaos Erupts

Susan's face turned pale as the five men started closing in. She instinctively backed up, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"What are you doing? Stop! Help!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the air.

But the four punks didn't hesitate. One slapped her across the face, another kicked her legs, a third rammed his fists into her stomach, and the last swung his arm against her back. The harsh sounds of hitting seemed to echo in the stillness.

Leo's Dilemma

Canelo frowned, shaking his head at the sloppy scene. What kind of amateurs are these? They're supposed to be robbing, not just beating her like idiots. You take the money first—if that's not enough, then you swing.

Leo, standing a few steps behind, froze like a block of ice. He knew Susan too well. She wasn't just some random girl; she was someone who had shared classrooms, stories, and laughter with him. The thought of punching her twisted his gut.

Still, he needed to do something to prove he was "trying" in this absurd test. So, with trembling hands, he reached into Susan's pocket and pulled out a small wad of cash.

To Canelo, this move was pure brilliance. This kid's got the instincts of a pro. What a talent!

The Hesitation

Susan's cries pierced the quiet air. Her body trembled, her face swelling, but she kept yelling, "Help! Somebody help me!" Her voice carried far, bouncing off the walls of nearby buildings.

And yet, the beating continued. Even the punks seemed confused about why they were still swinging.

Leo clenched his teeth. He raised his fist, gripping it so tight that his knuckles turned white. He swung it halfway forward—then froze, his arm stiff like stone. He pulled it back slowly. He just couldn't do it.

Desperate Measures

From the corner of his eye, Leo noticed Canelo watching, rubbing his chin like a hawk sizing up prey. Why does he look at me like that? Leo thought, panic creeping in. He knows I can't even hit Susan. He thinks I'm weak. I've failed this test.

His chest tightened. I gotta do something—anything—or I'm done here.

Frantically scanning the ground, Leo spotted it—a foul, dingy, pixelated-looking object, like a broken 8-bit relic that didn't belong in reality, radiating a disgusting stench. Without thinking, he crouched, grabbed it, and charged forward.

Susan was still crying when Leo shoved the filthy, pixelated object into her mouth and clamped his hand over it, as if that would somehow prove his resolve.

Shock and Betrayal

Canelo's eyes widened. OMG, this guy just did something I couldn't even think of doing—something I've never done before.

His shock shifted into respect. What a natural-born gangster!

The four punks froze mid-punch, their faces blank, staring at Leo as though he had gone insane.

Susan's face contorted with pain and disbelief. Her tear-streaked eyes met Leo's, filled with confusion, betrayal, and a crushing sense of "Why?"—as if everything around her had shattered in that instant.

Then, still choking on fear and humiliation, she accidentally swallowed the pixelated object. With a faint gasp, she collapsed to the ground.

The Exam Ends

And just like that, today's live "interview" was over. The five guys walked off, not a scratch on them—Susan had never fought back—heading home like students waiting for their test results.

Susan, meanwhile, was left lying on the ground, her body bruised and swollen, looking like she had been tossed aside like a broken doll. Her hair was a tangled mess, her face so swollen and disfigured that even her own mother wouldn't be able to recognize her. Her breath came in shallow, uneven bursts.

To them, the chaos wasn't personal. It was just another bizarre exam, and Leo's fate now hung in the balance.