As I expected, Nina's shortcut didn't help at all.
In the bus, the students were no longer noisy. Uneasiness could be seen on everyone's face.
Every time the number on the electronic watch jumped, their faces turned a shade paler.
"Are we really not going to make it?"
A classmate, Jason Wesley, asked the driver desperately, but all he got was the driver's contemptuous snort.
If these students hadn't stubbornly insisted on delaying their departure by 15 minutes, they wouldn't be in this situation.
When the bus arrived at the exam venue, the exam venue had been sealed off and no longer allowed any candidates to enter.
Brock got out of the car with a pale face.
"There's no way," he remarked in disbelief upon seeing the cordon.
Jason wanted to break through the cordon, but was stopped by the police.
"The SAT has already started. No one is allowed to enter the exam venue without permission."
The other students also got off the bus. Some of them were shaking in fear.
As Brock said, missing the exam could ruin their entire life.
I looked at them with a cold smirk, a trace of schadenfreude flashing in my eyes.
Weren't you guys willing to risk your future for Nina?
Why are you crying and screaming now?
Brock suddenly said, "Don't worry, everyone. We were late because of a valid reason. We can explain the situation to the teacher in charge. They'll arrange for us to take a make-up exam."
All the students suddenly lit up, like drowning people grabbing at a lifeline. They shouted, asking to see the teacher in charge.
The school principal approached with a group of teachers, looking livid.
Seeing the principal's expression, for some reason, Brock had a bad premonition.
"Delaying the departure by 15 minutes on purpose, what exactly are you people thinking? Don't even think you can sit for a make-up exam. You should be grateful I'm not banning you guys from taking the exam for 3 years!"
After the principal had finished speaking, some of the parents who were waiting outside the exam venue in the rain also pointed fingers at the latecomers.
"How can you be late for such an important exam? Aren't you being too irresponsible?"
"If you were my son, I would beat you to death!"
The parents' words made everyone even more desperate.
Jason grabbed Brock's collar and roared, "You said Cassie was lying because she was jealous. You told us there's no need to worry and we have to wait for Nina. Why can't we enter the exam venue now?"
The others also turned to Brock with angry faces.
Brock seemed to be drained of energy. He lowered his head, looking regretful.
Nina choked up and said with a sad face, "That road was never busy. Why would it be blocked without warning on the day we're running late?"
She sounded like she was blaming herself, but she was actually leading them to a certain conclusion.
Suddenly, Brock looked up at me and said with bloodshot eyes, "Cassie, did you do this? Is it because you're jealous of Nina and want to make her miss the exam?! You failed to do that back at school, so you asked your dad to send people to block the road! You're so vicious! You ruined all of our futures because of jealousy!"
