No More Saving My Romance-Obsessed Roommate

My roommate, Chloe, was completely obsessed with cheesy romance novels.

On our very first day as roommates, she curled up on the couch, clutching her phone with glowing eyes, and said, Look! In all the trending stories now, the female lead leaves her front door unlocked at night, and the hot male lead accidentally wanders in. Its love at first sight!

So, she decided to leave our apartment door unlocked every single night.

I warned her multiple times, but she just waved her hand and laughed. "You don't get it, Harper. Real love always starts with a beautiful accident."

In my past life, I stopped trying to argue with her. But the "accident" did come.

A man wearing a black baseball cap pushed our unlocked door open and walked right in.

Chloe was working overtime and wasn't home that night.

The man couldn't find her, but he found the fresh cash and the laptop on my desk.

I woke up in terror only to feel a cold blade pressed against my neck, forcing me to give him my PayPal password.

I gave it to him. But he slit my throat anyway.

The last thing I heard before I died was his muttered curse: "What kind of idiot leaves their front door wide open these days?"

Then, I opened my eyes again. I was back to our first day of renting the apartment.

Chloe was holding her phone right in front of my face, pointing at a paragraph. "Look, Harper! The female lead only found her thrilling, dangerous romance because she left her door open!"

Chloe shook my hand, her face full of starry-eyed delusion.

"Harper, we should stop locking the door from now on! Just leave it on a crack every night!"

"Im definitely going to find my own thrilling, break-in kind of love!"

The sudden shaking snapped me out of my trance. I gasped, quickly pulling my hand back and touching my neck.

In my past life, Chloe was brainwashed by those trashy romance books. She constantly fantasized about some gorgeous stranger breaking in and starting a passionate, life-changing love story with her.

I had tried to tell her it was all fiction. The person breaking in wouldn't be a charming prince; he would be a predator.

But she wouldn't listen.

Every night after I locked up, she would sneak out and unlock the door, leaving it slightly open.

Every morning when I found the door unlocked, I would confront her.

But the next night, she would do it again.

Then came that horrific night. A man broke in. He ransacked the place.

I woke up, got held at knifepoint, gave him my passwords, and was murdered in cold blood.

Chloe didn't return until the next morning.

Seeing my lifeless body, she cried and called the police. But in front of the neighbors and the cops, she sobbed, "I just wanted to find love. Harper knew I was working overtime, yet she didn't lock the door properly. She only has herself to blame!"

Thinking of this, I rubbed my neck again.

I could almost still feel the phantom pain of the blade slicing through my flesh.

Seeing the grim expression on my face, Chloe pouted, looking annoyed. "Whats with the attitude, Harper? I just want to find love. Whats wrong with that?"

I didn't waste my breath on her. I stood up, walked to the front door, shut it hard, and turned the deadbolt.

Chloe instantly flipped out and jumped off the couch.

"Why did you lock it?! How is my soulmate supposed to get in if you lock the door?!"

"How can you be so heartless? You're literally ruining my chance at true love!"

I stared at her, my face completely expressionless.

"Your fantasy love shouldn't be built on my safety."

"If you want to put your life on the line, go ahead. But don't drag me down with you."

With that, I grabbed my keys, walked into my bedroom, and locked the door behind me.

Lying on my bed, I ignored her loud banging on my door. I immediately unlocked my phone and started searching for new apartments. I needed to move out. Fast.

Outside, Chloes whining continued.

"Harper, you have no right to stop me from finding my destiny! Just because youre single and lonely doesn't mean you can ruin things for me!"

"Besides, you have no looks and no money. Even if a bad guy did break in, he wouldn't even look at you!"

I was speechless.

Did this girl have nothing but romance in her brain? Did she have zero concept of basic safety for women living alone?

The real estate agent replied quickly on WhatsApp:

"Hi Miss Harper, Ive found a great place for you. We can do a viewing tomorrow."

I texted back:

"No roommates. I want to rent the whole place. Hows the security?"

The agent replied instantly:

"Guaranteed. The building has 24/7 security guards. It's a smart lockonly your fingerprint will be registered. Plus, there's a police precinct right across the street."

Relieved, I started packing my bags.

The next morning, I dragged my suitcase out of my room and ran into Chloe, who was about to head out.

Seeing my heavy bags, her eyes instantly turned red.

"What is this, Harper? Are you abandoning me?"

I looked at her coldly. "Where I live is my business. It has nothing to do with you."

She blocked the doorway, refusing to let me pass. Then she pulled out her phone and called our landlord, Mason.

"Mason! Harper is trying to move out early and break the lease! You need to come over right now!"

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, Chloes 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? Shes 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, shes not going to get a boyfriend. Shes going to get us killed!"

Hearing this, Chloes 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 youre 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.

"Whats 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 shes mocking my dreams!"

Rachel let herself in, patting Chloes 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 buildings 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. Shes even cursing me, saying our place will get robbed! She says Im delusional and don't deserve love. Am I really the bad guy here?"

The group chat immediately exploded with replies.

"I know Chloe. Shes a sweet girl, just a bit of a romantic."

"Leaving the door unlocked isn't great, but moving out over it? Thats 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 everyones darling.

Rachel stood in the center of the living room, acting like a self-appointed mediator.

"See, Harper? Everyone in the group chat thinks you're overreacting. Chloe is just a young girl with romantic fantasies. You're older, you should be the bigger person."

Mason tossed his keys onto the coffee table, his tone turning stern.

"Harper, if you want to leave, I won't stop you. Youll pay the penalty. But do you really have to paint Chloe as some kind of accomplice to murder before you go?"

"A bad guy? Ive lived in this building for ten years. Its perfectly safe."

I looked at Mason, dead serious.

"So because the odds are low, you think I should gamble my life with her?"

"If someone actually breaks in, you guys will be sleeping soundly while Im the one bleeding out on the floor."

Chloe snapped her head up, her eyes red.

"Who are you calling dead? How can you be so vicious, Harper? I told you a hundred times, I only leave it open a crack! Bad guys can't get in through that! Why do you keep cursing me?"

She grabbed a throw pillow from the couch and threw it at me. It missed and hit the wall.

Rachel quickly held her back. "Okay, okay, calm down."

I bent down, picked up the pillow, and placed it back on the couch.

I didn't even look at her. "I just want to stay safe. Is that a crime?"

"Chase your ridiculous break-in fantasy all you want. But do not leave the door open so a predator can walk right past my bedroom."

Mason frowned, silent for a long moment before pulling out a cigarette.

After a minute, he seemed to make a decision.

"Alright, Harper. Don't rush to move out. Lets handle this contract properly."

"Give me one week. Once I find a new tenant, well sign the lease termination, and Ill refund your deposit in full. If I can't find anyone, you stay for one more month while I keep looking. Deal?"

Hearing this, Chloe immediately started crying again. "Mason! Youre not taking my side either? Youre going to make me change too?"

Mason waved his hand dismissively. "Im not taking sides. I just want some peace! Chloe, you do need to stop this door-unlocking nonsense. If someone actually gets in, crying won't save you."

Chloe bit her lip and stayed silent, tears trembling on her eyelashes.

Rachel chimed in: "Harper, Mason made a huge compromise. If you still refuse, you're just being difficult. Everyone has roommate conflicts. You can't just ruin someones life over one minor disagreement."

I looked at Mason.

His expression made it clear that this wasn't a request; it was an ultimatum.

I knew exactly what they were thinking. Deep down, they didn't think Chloe was doing anything dangerous. They just thought the drama was annoying.

I thought about it.

Finding a place and moving takes time. I could wait a week.

I let go of my suitcase and nodded.

"Fine. Seven days."

"But I have one condition."

"I am installing a deadbolt lock on my bedroom door, and I will lock it from the inside every night."

"If the front door is left unlocked or open again, I won't warn anyone. I will call the police immediately. If anything happens during these seven days, it is not my responsibility."

Mason frowned. "Do you have to be so cold? You guys live together. Calling the police?"

"Yes."

Rachel scoffed, pulling Chloe toward the kitchen. She whispered, "Whatever, let her lock herself in. A few days and she'll get over herself."

That night, I installed a heavy-duty chain lock on the inside of my bedroom door. I tested it three times to ensure it couldn't be forced open from the outside.

I also locked my laptop and cash inside my desk drawer and set up an emergency speed-dial on my phone's home screen.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I rubbed my neck, feeling the phantom blade. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

The next few days were strangely quiet.

Chloe went to work during the day and spent her evenings glued to her phone on the couch, completely ignoring me.

I didn't speak to her either. We coexisted like ghosts.

Mason did come by every night around nine. He would knock on the door, check the lock on the front door, and leave only after making sure it was secure.

Meanwhile, the buildings Snapchat group chat was full of gossip about me.

"That Harper in 702 is such a drama queen. Shes making sweet Chloes life a living hell."

Someone even tagged me, telling me to "stop bullying a young girl."

I ignored every single message.

On the fifth day, Mason called to tell me he had found a new tenant who would move in over the weekend.

On the sixth day, I breathed a sigh of relief. I scheduled the movers for Saturday morning.

Friday night. I packed all my important documents and cash into my backpack and placed it under my pillow. I plugged my phone in, fully charged, right next to me.

Before going to sleep, I double-checked my bedroom door, making sure the lock was turned all the way.

At 2:00 AM, I woke up.

A sliver of light was coming through my bedroom door.

It was open.

The moonlight from the living room was spilling onto my floor.

A cold sweat broke out across my back.

I had locked the door. I had installed a new lock. The only key was supposed to be under my pillow.

I reached under my pillow.

The key was gone.

Then it hit me. I had left my jacket in the living room this afternoon, and my keys were in the pocket.

Chloe had taken them.

I held my breath and grabbed my phone. Just as the screen lit up, the door was pushed wide open.

A man in a black baseball cap stepped into my room, a folding knife open in his hand.

Seeing that I was awake, he paused for a second, then let out a low chuckle.

"You're awake."

I gripped my phone tightly, my thumb frantically tapping the emergency speed-dial without looking.

The phantom pain on my neck flared up violently.

"Where's the money?" He pointed the blade at me.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady.

"The backpack under my pillow. There's about two thousand dollars in cash. My laptop is in the desk drawer. You can take it all."

He walked over, grabbed the backpack, and quickly checked the cash. He stuffed it into his pockets, then pulled the laptop from the drawer, tucking it under his arm.

Everything was going so smoothly that he let his guard down. But as he turned to leave, my phone suddenly rang.

He looked down at my screen. It was an incoming FaceTime call from Chloe.

He looked at me, a sadistic grin spreading across his face.

"Answer it. Put it on speaker."

I swiped the screen. "Chloe? What are you doing?"

"Hey, Harper! Is there a guy in your room right now?"

My face went cold. "Did you do this? Are you insane?!"

Chloes voice came through the speaker, dripping with twisted excitement.

"Hey, handsome! My roommate isn't bad-looking, and shes got a great body!"

"Don't be picky! Shes always lecturing me about how real romance doesn't exist. Why don't you show her what 'destiny' feels like tonight?"

The intruder froze for a second, then burst into a crude laugh. He turned back to me.

"Wow. Your roommate is pretty generous."

"Chloe!" I screamed, my voice shaking. "You unlocked the door just so a robber could 'gift' me a fantasy?"

The line went quiet for two seconds before Chloe spoke up, completely self-righteous:

"Harper, don't be ungrateful! I wanted this destiny for myself, but since you've been so mean to me lately, I decided to let you have him! You don't have to thank me!"

The man laughed out loud, shoved my phone into his pocket, and stepped toward my bed.

"Well, since your roommate put in a good word for you, it would be rude of me to leave without having some fun, wouldn't it?"

My fingers finally managed to hit the emergency SOS button on my smartwatch.

The moment the call connected, I screamed the address at the top of my lungs:

"7 Oak Street, Apartment 702! Armed robbery! Help me!"

The mans expression changed instantly. He lunged at me to grab my wrist.

I rolled off the bed, pulling the heavy duvet over myself to block him.

He grabbed my ankle and dragged me back, my knee slamming hard against the bed frame.

"You bitch! You called the cops?! Now you're dead!"

"I was gonna let you live, but you asked for this!"

The cold blade pressed against my neck, just like in my past life, cutting a thin line into my skin. I felt a warm trickle of blood.

I fought with everything I had, but my strength was nothing against a grown man.

My muscles began to give out.

Was it going to end the same way again?

I closed my eyes, ready to accept the inevitable.

Suddenly, the bedroom door was kicked off its hinges.

Three police officers stormed in, their flashlights and firearms aimed directly at him.

"Police! Drop the knife! Get on the ground now!"