My Roommate Transformed Our Apartment into a Mess and Acted as if I Were the Maid — She Quickly Received a Wake-Up Call
Chloe reached her limit as her roommate Alice transformed their shared space into a chaotic mess. Determined to enforce some order and teach Alice a valuable lesson, Chloe crafted a clever plan. But would Alice finally take heed and change her ways?
“Ugh, not again,” I groaned upon entering the living room to a scene of utter disarray.
The sink overflowed with dirty dishes, clothes littered the floor, and garbage spilled out of the bin.
I sank onto the couch with my favorite book, seeking solace in its pages.
Yet, I couldn’t concentrate.
All I could think about was Alice’s neglect of our agreed-upon cleaning schedule.
Alice, 23, and I, 22, had been friends since college and decided to share an apartment post-graduation.
Initially, all went well. We split costs, adhered to a cleaning schedule, and enjoyed each other’s company.
However, about three months ago, Alice’s demeanor shifted.
She became indifferent to the apartment’s upkeep. I found myself continually cleaning up after her, which was increasingly frustrating.
“Why does she keep doing this?” I sighed, surveying the chaos.
Our apartment, once a cozy retreat, now resembled a sty.
Just then, Alice entered, disheveled and oblivious to the mess.
“Hey, Chloe. What’s going on?” she asked, reaching for the TV remote.
I inhaled deeply, struggling to contain my frustration. “Alice, we need to discuss the cleaning schedule. It’s not fair that I’m left to clean everything.”
Alice glanced my way, then back at the TV. “Yeah, I’ll get to it later,” she responded dismissively.
“Later?” I echoed, voice rising. “You always say that, but it never happens. This place is a mess, Alice. We need to keep it clean.”
Annoyed, she turned off the TV. “Fine, I’ll handle it later, Chloe. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is I’m tired of being the only one who cleans. Remember our agreement?”
Rolling her eyes, Alice stood. “Okay, whatever. I’ll do it later,” she retorted before walking away.
As she left, I felt a mix of frustration and disappointment.
I hoped she’d keep her promise, yet when I returned home the next day, the apartment was worse than ever. Alice’s friends lounged amid a sea of pizza boxes and cans.
“Seriously, Alice? We just talked about this!” I exclaimed. “You’re turning our home into a dump!”
Alice looked up, annoyed. “Chill, Chloe! You’re always tidying up anyway. I have other things to worry about,” she scoffed.
“Alice, this isn’t a joke. We both live here. It’s unfair for you to ignore the mess while I clean up after you and your friends.”
“Just relax. We’ll clean later,” she brushed off, turning back to her friends.
I clenched my fists, determined to resolve this. “Lighten up, Chloe,” one friend mocked. “It’s not the end of the world.”
That night, I decided no more.
The following weekend, Alice burst into my room, thrilled about a date with her new boyfriend, Mark.
“Chloe, I need the place spotless tonight,” she demanded. “You enjoy cleaning, right, Cinderella? Make sure it’s perfect for my date.”
Her condescending tone infuriated me, but I smiled. “Sure, Alice. It’ll be perfect,” I assured her.
“Awesome! Who needs a fairy godmother when I’ve got you?” she laughed.
Once she left, I began my plan. I cleaned the common areas until they shone. However, I had a special twist for Alice’s mess.
I collected her dirty dishes, clothes, and overflowing trash, arranging them meticulously in her room—dishes on her dresser, clothes on her bed, trash in every corner.
“Perfect,” I affirmed.
I locked her room and left a note: “Enjoy the clean apartment!”
That evening, Alice returned with Mark, proud to showcase our tidy living space.
“See, Mark? I keep everything neat,” she boasted.
I hid a smirk, knowing what awaited.
Alice tried to open her locked bedroom. Confused, she read my note, then unlocked the door. Her confident facade collapsed into shock as she saw her cluttered mess.
“What the…?” she gasped, face reddening.
Mark, stunned, stepped back. “Alice, I thought you liked to clean?” he questioned, dismayed.
Flustered, Alice struggled to explain. “I… this isn’t usually…”
Stepping forward, I couldn’t hide my satisfaction. “I thought you’d like all your things in one place, Alice,” I said sweetly. “After all, you love cleaning, right?”
Mark, catching on, expressed his disappointment. “Alice, this is too much. I can’t stay,” he said before leaving.
Furious, Alice confronted me. “You ruined my night deliberately, Chloe!”
“No, Alice,” I countered calmly. “You brought this on yourself. I just showed you what I deal with daily. It’s time for you to take some responsibility.”
Silence fell before Alice finally conceded. “Alright, I get it. I’ve been unfair. I’ll start helping out more.”
Her unexpected apology surprised me. “Thank you, Alice. Let’s both make an effort,” I responded, hopeful.
From then on, Alice took her share of the chores seriously, gradually restoring our apartment to its former state and mending our strained friendship. What would you have done in my place?
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