A few years back, a user decided to share a story that many might find relatable, especially for those who’ve had the experience of living with a difficult roommate. This particular roommate was, in the most absolute sense, a nightmare. The user described him as messy, rude, passive-aggressive, and arrogant. Living together during lockdown in a flat with five others meant they were all stuck together, and personalities clashed more than ever during those tense times.
As if things couldn’t get worse, this guy somehow got a girlfriend who moved in, too. The user recalled how the girlfriend was forced to sleep on the floor because there wasn’t enough space for the two of them. After enduring months of this chaotic living arrangement, the user’s “joy” was palpable when the roommate and his girlfriend finally decided to move out a few months after lockdown. But before they made their exit, the roommate painted a fine picture of entitlement and aggression.
About a week before they moved out, the user experienced a particularly jarring encounter. The roommate had started yelling at them, accusing them of trying to barge into the bathroom while he was showering. The user maintained that they had only approached the door once, found it locked, and simply turned to wait in their room. However, the roommate had flung the door open, towel-clad and furious, launching into a tirade of insults. It was an unnecessary and humiliating confrontation, to say the least, and it didn’t sit well with the user.
Fast forward to the day of the “revenge.” The roommate’s expensive wooden chess set was packed away in the communal garage, ready to go to his new place. The user had a moment of inspiration and a sense of satisfaction washed over them. They decided to take one of the queens from the set. Why? Because it was both symbolic and practical—removing a queen essentially rendered the entire chess set useless. After all, they knew it was a high-end set, and finding a replacement queen wouldn’t be as easy as just popping into a store.
The decision felt like poetic justice. The user had transformed the chess set into a mere showpiece—a decorative item that could no longer serve its purpose. A chess set without a queen was like a ship without a sail; it wasn’t going anywhere. Sure, it was a petty act, but the user was tired of putting up with the roommate’s behavior, and this felt like a small win in an otherwise frustrating situation. They expressed later that they wished they’d taken the entire board and made it seem like it was lost in the move. What a blow that would have dealt to an already insufferable roommate!
The story resonated with many who read it. Who hasn’t been pushed to the brink by an awful roommate? There was no need for moral lessons or grand gestures. Just a simple, yet fulfilling act of minor revenge that turned their roommate’s prized possession into an embarrassing problem. The user’s post reminded everyone that sometimes the best form of satisfaction comes from a small act of rebellion—a way to reassert oneself in an oppressive living situation.
As the user wrapped up their story, it became clear that they had found their own way to reclaim some power in a relationship that had been dominated by someone else’s rudeness and entitlement. Watched by many who empathized with their plight, the user’s story was a hit, sparking plenty of comments and laughter as people shared their similar experiences.
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