That night, I addressed these issues with Aleena via WhatsApp.

Her response was immediate.

Aleena: [Do you want me to recommend some real estate agents?]

I frowned: [What do you mean?]

Aleena: [You two are not done yet, are you?]

I was enraged: [You bring your boyfriend over and have strangers come for parties. Is that acceptable?]

Aleena: [I'm paying rent too. I can invite whoever I want! Janessa, you should know that although the house was decided by you, I'm paying for it. Don't talk to me like you're giving orders!]

I was so angry that I laughed: [Go ask around. This apartment's rent is over ten thousand dollars a month. I've been letting you stay for just two hundred dollars a month as a favor because you're my classmate. Since you're so ungrateful, move out today!"

Two hundred dollars wouldn't even cover three days in a rundown motel near the school, let alone rent an apartment.

Moreover, she barely made two thousand dollars a month with a part-time job and had to support a lazy boyfriend, so she couldn't afford to spend half her earnings on rent.

There was silence for a long time, and I kept seeing "typing" on the screen.

I was prepared for her to throw a tantrum or beg for forgiveness, and then for me to refuse firmly.

After a while, she sent a message.

[I'm not moving out. Call the police if you want!]

This time, I was the one seething with anger.

Carly, with her eyes red from crying, bit her lip and hesitated before speaking.

"Janessa, how about we move out next month and let her rent on her own? Aleena definitely won't want to pay five thousand dollars a month for rent."

Of course, Aleena wouldn't want to, or she wouldn't have insisted on sharing the apartment with us in the first place.

But why should I be the one to move out when she was the one in the wrong?

Besides, this was my mom's place!

I stood up abruptly. "I'll contact someone to throw all her stuff out as soon as I finish my exam tomorrow!"

Then I sent Aleena an ultimatum on WhatsApp.

"You don't have to pay next month's rent. Move out tomorrow!"

But a red exclamation mark popped up on the screen.

I had been blocked by her!

I was so speechless.

The next day, after failing to catch Aleena, I headed to the exam location with my anger boiling.

While rummaging through my bag, I realized my admission ticket was missing.

I rushed back home, and as soon as I opened the door, I heard muffled, strange noises coming from my bedroom.

Suppressing my fear, I kicked the door open with a broom.

In the next moment, my pupils dilated.

Two naked bodies were entwined on my bed.

The air was filled with the nauseating smell of sex.

It was Aleena and her boyfriend!

In that instant, many things I had overlooked became clear.

For example, when I left, my underwear was neatly folded, but now it was all messy.

The bed linens, which were always neatly made, were now wrinkled and had a faint smell of smoke.

It was clear that they had taken advantage of my absence to do disgusting things on my bed!

There were five bedrooms in the apartment, and they chose mine!

Who would believe it was unintentional?

Seeing me, Aleena screamed, clutching her chest, and pushed her boyfriend away, rushing back into the room.

Her boyfriend looked me up and down with a sneer, and then disdainfully grunted.

"Didn't your mom teach you how to knock? You lowly woman!"

After cursing me, he swaggered past and entered Aleena's room.

"Bang!"

The door was slammed shut with force.

I was so enraged that I felt dizzy.

If it weren't for the fact that this exam was crucial after a long time of preparation, I would have confronted them at the moment.

Suppressing my anger, I looked at the disheveled bed linens stained with dark marks and the used condoms scattered on the floor.

I finally looked at the bedside table.

There was a soaked admission ticket, used as an ashtray and piled with cigarette butts.

At that moment, I lost my temper.

I rushed to Aleena's bedroom door, smashing on the door heavily.

My voice was stretched and almost broke from the anger.

"Aleena, get out here!

"If you don't explain yourself today, I won't let you go!"

Inside the room, they whispered to each other but didn't open the door.

"That woman must be crazy. When is she going to leave?"

That was Aleena's boyfriend speaking.

"Honey, she's spoiled and has a bunch of petty princess habits. We shouldn't argue with people like that."

That was Aleena's voice.

"You paid rent, so why shouldn't I live here? I think she's just jealous because she's single and envious of us! She claims to be paying most of the rent. I think she should pay more if she's rich. Besides, who knows where she gets her money from? Maybe she's doing something despicable and wants to force you out to hide it!"

Her boyfriend's voice grew louder as if he wanted the whole building to hear.

I had once felt sympathy for Aleena's boyfriend, who lived off her.

His daily expenses were paid by Aleena, but he even used her money to tip streamers and go to the hotel with younger girls on campus.

I had advised Aleena more than once to break up with him, but she'd only reconciled with him and even boasted about it.

"Honey, my roommate Janessa said you don't deserve me and that I should break up with you.

"But I'm not willing to let you go. If you make me angry again, I'll listen to Janessa and dump you!"

I tried to help her, but she used me to boost her worth.

Sure enough, they were just a perfect match.

Thinking about how my three years of hard work might be in vain, I flew into a rage.

The thought of lying on a bed tainted with their scent every night made me feel like thousands of bugs were crawling over me, almost making me vomit.

I pounded on the door with my fists.

They had to be kicked out today!

But inside, they acted as if I didn't exist, laughing and talking, with Aleena occasionally cursing me for being selfish.

After I pounded on the door for half an hour in fury, her boyfriend suddenly shouted.

The next moment, the door was yanked open.

Aleena's boyfriend, Reuben Odom, glared at me and cursed.

"Are you fucking crazy?

"What if I slept in your room today? Call the police if you want!

"If you knock again, I'll fucking kill you! Get lost, bitch!"

Behind him, Aleena sat on the bed with a cold and provocative smile.