Chapter 3

Mason arrived quickly, clutching a spare set of keys, sweating slightly.

He looked at my suitcase, then at the tearful Chloe. He frowned.

"Harper, you signed a one-year lease. You paid a security deposit and the first month's rent."

"If you leave so suddenly, how am I supposed to find a tenant to replace you? Chloe is just a young girl. Do you expect her to pay the entire rent by herself?"

I opened the digital contract on my phone and showed him the clause.

"According to the lease, if I terminate early, I forfeit my security deposit as a penalty. I am willing to pay that, Mason."

Mason paced around the living room with his hands behind his back and sighed.

"Why are young people always so impulsive? Sure, Chloe’s ideas are a bit naive, but you guys are roommates. Can't you just talk it out? She didn't mean any harm..."

My voice went ice-cold.

"She didn't mean any harm? She’s waiting for a literal burglar to walk in!"

"Mason, someone tried to pry open the security door of this building last night. The property management posted a warning in the WhatsApp group. If she keeps leaving the door unlocked, she’s not going to get a boyfriend. She’s going to get us killed!"

Hearing this, Chloe’s tears flowed even faster, looking like the ultimate victim.

"Stop cursing me! I looked up safety tips online! If I only leave the door open a crack, bad guys can't get in!"

I laughed out of sheer frustration.

"So you’re saying only 'good guys' can fit through a cracked door? Are you insane?"

"Stop reading those trashy novels. They've rotted your brain."

Just then, the front door of the apartment next door opened. Our neighbor, Rachel, poked her head out, looking curious.

"What’s all the noise so early in the morning? Is Chloe upset again?"

Seeing Rachel, Chloe ran toward the door like she had found a savior.

"Rachel! Harper is moving out, and she’s mocking my dreams!"

Rachel let herself in, patting Chloe’s back to comfort her while giving me a disapproving look.

"Harper, Chloe is just a sweet, naive girl. She hasn't done anything wrong. Her parents aren't around, so as her roommate, you should be a bit more understanding."

"Rachel, she leaves the front door unlocked every single night. If a criminal comes in and robs or assaults us, will she take responsibility?"

"What is wrong with me wanting to protect my own life?"

Rachel choked on her words, looking embarrassed. "Well... nothing has happened yet. Our neighborhood has been pretty safe for years, hasn't it?"

I let out a cold laugh. "Once something happens, it'll be too late."

Chloe sobbed louder, her tears dripping onto the hardwood floor.

She grabbed her phone, opened our building’s Snapchat group chat, and started typing furiously.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed repeatedly.

Over a dozen notifications popped up.

Chloe had posted a picture of me standing by the door with my suitcase, along with a message:

"My roommate Harper is moving out just because I don't lock the door at night. She’s even cursing me, saying our place will get robbed! She says I’m delusional and don't deserve love. Am I really the bad guy here?"

The group chat immediately exploded with replies.

"I know Chloe. She’s a sweet girl, just a bit of a romantic."

"Leaving the door unlocked isn't great, but moving out over it? That’s a bit dramatic."

"Young people have no tolerance these days. Roommates need to compromise."

"Harper is overreacting. She made Chloe cry. How heartless."

I stared at the screen, my fingers turning cold.

In my past life, they saw my brutalized corpse, yet they only pitied Chloe for being "traumatized."

A few tears from her, and she became everyone’s darling.