In MA, USA- I sublet from john & frank in a 3bd from oct-dec. We had no written agreement. Everyone knew it violated the lease, but they reassured me they could "sneak one". Rent was always requested around the 5th-8th, and always off by $1-2. I have paid in full all months i lived in the apartment, un-pro-rated.

Timeline:

9/12: I tour the unit.

9/26. At this point I was going to move back home. They text back and apologize for not responding, a asking if I was still looking. They acknowledge it was not allowed, and ask when I would leave. I texted both I planned to leave "first half of 2025, probably spring, but no specific date yet".

10/3: I move in.

11/18: I text both "I have a housing update"; John replies "for sure". I verbally tell just Frank that night I plan to leave January 1st. The property manager also discovers the sublet around this time.

11/19:, Frank verbally tells me the property manager would add me to the lease noting I would leave January 1st. He told me verbally "we understood the risks getting into this".

11/20:, Frank texts just me asking "what day are you moving into the new place, I want to make sure I'm telling [property manager] the right thing". I text back "January 1st". Later I text both "to keep you in the loop, [property manager] will follow up with me tomorrow".

11/21:, the property manager texts me I will be added to lease until 1/1/25, and that I would initial. I was never sent anything to initial. This night I overhear Frank tell John "we can't do this again or they're going to kick us out".

12/17: Frank posts on FB looking for a new roommate for 1/1/25**.**

12/23 Frank texts me asking to take a pic of my room to show a potential new roommate.

12/29: I move out in front of Frank. I gift frank my couch. I declined Frank's offer for payment for it.

1/7:, John texts "just got back. Didn't know you left man. Hate to be that guy, but we agreed to 4 months". I ignored them.

1/11: John double texts "we're not being unreasonable. what were asking of you is the exact thing you did to us, which is pay an extra months rent. You committed to 4 months and only gave us three. Us paying the extra or you paying the extra doesn't seem right, so we should split the outstanding payment 3 ways."

• No one has even charged me anything like normal yet, and john had to ask for it. he's already trying to negotiate it down.
• I understood the agreement to be informal and ambiguous with a vague end date.
• not once did anyone object to me moving out, or seek reassurance about a supposed 4 months rent.
• I'm worried that their non-objection to me leaving isn't proof of no agreement 4 months despite their claim

Do I respond to them? Or do I keep ignoring.