Chapter 3The AA System: Split to the Death

Probably for the revenge of the $18, Zara's mooching behavior worsened.

She started taking things without asking.

The fruit on the table, if not watched, would soon be reduced to a third.

My newly bought shampoo was half empty in two weeks.

Layla's unopened expensive face cream was found opened and half gone.

She confronted Zara, unable to bear it anymore:

"Did you steal and open it? You scooped out half!"

Zara clipped her nails, not even looking up:

"You can eat indiscriminately, but you can't talk indiscriminately. Which eye saw me take it? You probably used it yourself and blamed it on me."

Layla was furious: "I just bought it yesterday! It was on the table, never touched!"

"Whether you touched it or not is none of my business. Why accuse me? Why not Laney or Jay?"

"They wouldn't do such dirty things like you!"

"Oh, targeting me, huh? Do you have evidence? If not, shut up."

Indeed, there was no evidence.

Because of this, no matter how Layla questioned her, Zara denied it to the death.

Layla angrily locked her valuables in the cabinet, slamming the door shut with a "bang."

"Then what about you breaking my hairdryer? You were the last one to use it, and it broke right after," I said suddenly from my bed.

I couldn't intervene in Layla and Zara's business, but my account had to be settled.

"Just because you say I used it last means I did? Maybe you broke it yourself and framed me. Again, evidence or shut up. Annoying as hell."

"I hope you can keep this attitude."

I said meaningfully, then immediately ordered a surveillance camera, telling only Layla and Laney.

"Stop acting tough, always whining."

Zara sneered and lay back down, not cleaning up her nail clippings.

Not only that, but a pile of unwashed underwear and smelly socks was piled at the foot of her bed. Takeout boxes were stuffed under her desk, attracting cockroaches and bugs, filling the dorm with a rotten stench.

Even the good-tempered Laney couldn't help but speak up seeing this "grand sight":

"Zara, clean up your area. It's dirty. And it's your turn to clean the dorm this week, but you haven't done it."

However, she only got this reply:

"I don't think it's dirty. If you think it's dirty, clean it yourself. A dorm full of busybodies."

Then she put on her headphones and played games.

Laney couldn't stand it and started cleaning with a broom and mop.

Seeing this, Layla and I consciously got out of bed to help.

From above came Zara's voice cursing at the game, soon changing to a sickeningly sweet voice:

"Boohoo, what to do with weird roommates, brother? They all bully me. Will you protect me?"

Us: "..."

What comforted us was the bill settlement at night.

[1. Utilities split evenly, Zara deducted $0.50 less.]

[2. Zara scooped out half of Layla's luxury face cream. Calculated at market price, must pay $800. Deducted.]

[3. Zara broke Jay's hairdryer. Calculated with depreciation, must compensate Jay $200. Deducted.]

[4. Zara failed to fulfill cleaning duties. Three roommates helped clean. Calculated at market cleaner rate of $100/person/hour, total $300. Deducted.]

We were stunned, then ecstatic.

We didn't expect the AA System to be so observant!

Zara went crazy, cursing the system for scamming money, demanding a refund and removal of the system.

However, the cold mechanical voice sounded again:

[Removing the system before graduation will result in expulsion.]