Chapter 5 : The Dummy

Chapter 5

‘Fuck,’ Tom whispered to himself. ‘Ano ‘tong ginagawa ko?’

His question was not to stop himself, but more likely, to contemplate whether he was still doing the right thing. Why is he willing to spend so much money for this girl?

‘Ayos lang naman siguro, minsan lang naman ako gumastos saka kailangan ko na rin ng magagastusan. Kaya nga ako nagtatrabaho,’ pang-uuto nito sa sarili.

He just recharged 500,000 coins for this live stream. Para lamang hindi matalo si Clarinet. SL also did the same. Parehas sila ng rason. Parehas sila ng pinoprotektahan.

Magkasunod na nag-appear ang dalawang mamahaling regalo: isang triple cruise ship na nagkakahalaga ng 300k at isang carousel na 50,000 coins.

[Tangina, ang yayaman ng mga tao. Hindi ko afford.]

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalawang magkalaban. Both of them were not expecting this challenge to be this competitive. It was supposed to be a friendly game meant to also increase Mia’s popularity, pero ngayon, it was more than that. Kahit hindi siya sumayaw ay may maa-attract siyang mga tao dahil may dalawa siyang bigatin na supporters.

SL was also shocked. ‘Who was this guy?’ was the question in his mind.

Inubos niya ang inipon niyang points at c-in-onvert into coins para kay Mia, but someone is also competing with him. Ngayon ay sigurado na ang pagkapanalo ng dalaga.

[Grabe, ang yayaman niyo! Salute!]

No, SL was not that rich. It was his hard-earned points he used. He couldn’t say the same sa isa pang nagbigay. He just appeared here. No one in their right mind would spend so much for a person they just met… gaya niya. Both of them were fools to do so, alam nila ‘yon.

“Nakakalula,” wika ni Mia nang na-realize na totoong may gumastos ng ganito kalaking pera para sa kanya. “Thank you so much! Thank you, guys!”

As a form of gratefulness, she signed a gun in her hands and shot her viewers with a kiss. Men received her kiss kahit hindi ‘yon para sa kanila. Parehas naman na nagulat si Strawberry Lover at Tom sa nararamdaman ngayon.

Bunny uttered a ‘tsk.’ “You let me down, peeps.” But she was smiling. “Hindi niyo pala ako kayang suportahan kagaya ng dalawang ito.”

Kahit ano pa sigurong pang-asar niya sa mga supporter ay mahihirap na sila abutin ang agwat ng puntos. Tom breathed a sigh of relief on his end and so did SL.

[Hirap niyo namang pasayahin, si Bunny nga dapat susuportahan natin dito.]

[Kill joy ng dalawang ‘to!]

[Pangit niyo ka-bonding. Paano na natin mapapasayaw si Clarinet nito?]

Wala ng paki ang dalawa sa sinasabi nila. Ang mahalaga ay ang sasabihin ni Clarinet.

“Salamat ulit sa iyo. Ayaw ko pa man ding sumayaw.” Her laugh became a music to their ears. It was so good to hear. “Bawi ako sa inyong dalawa sa susunod lalo na sa iyo, SL.”

[What about me? I spent a lot compared to him.]

“Kapag nagpakilala ka, babawi rin ako sa iyo.”

Tom almost blew his cover. Mas mainam pang hindi na lang siya mabawian kaysa malaman ni Clarinet ang totoo.

[Forget about it.]

“Nga pala, SL, are you a he or a she?”

Hindi pinagtutuunan ng pansin ni Mia ang ibang mga komento. She was waiting for SL’s reply to her.

[He.]

“What?” Another surprise for her. She assumed na babae si SL dahil sa pangalan nito. “I thought na babae ka.”

[Because of my username?]

“Yes!” Mia slightly moved on her seat, nalilimutan na nasa PK pa sila.

[Aside from it being randomly generated, I guess you generalized the association of strawberry and girls.]

“Haha.” A small dimple appeared on her cheeks. “You’re right. Ikaw, Tiny Avenger?”

[Same.]

The people are still suspicious of TA’s identity. Bukod sa biglaan itong nag-appear at nagbigay ng napakalaking regalo, may iilan na naghihinala na sa totoong ito. Some guessed it correctly dahil bago ba naman siya pumunta rito ay nagla-live pa siya, pero bigla na lamang siya nagpaalam na may gagawin.

[Amoy rich daddy~]

“Kaya nga e.” Mia stood again to get some water. “Saglit lang, kuha muna ako tubig. Nauubos na energy ko kakadaldal sa inyo.”

As an introvert, this was not her expertise. Hindi niya nga na-consider dati na magganito. It was really an impulsive decision.

Habang wala siya ay nagbalikan na naman ang mga nangmamanyak na comment, pero ang iba, mabuti ay galing sa kapwa niya babae.

[Body is tea. How to achieve that sexiness?]

Mia was back in no time. Nakita niya ang sinaad ng isa na sinundan ng isa pang tanong.

[Share your routine here, please.]

Inilapag niya ang baso ng tubig at pumwesto ulit sa tapat ng camera. SL was muting again the perverts in the background.

“I actually don’t exercise though.” She ran her hands to her waist. “This is just genetics.”

[Sana all blessed!]

Inisang lagok ni Mia ang tubig bago sumagot. “Advantage talaga para sa isang tamad na tulad ko.”

Ilang segundo na lamang, matatapos na ang PK. Ngayon niya lang ulit naalala si Bunny dahil nad-distract na siya kay Tiny Avenger at SL. Nagulat siyang kaunti na lamang ang agwat nila ng kalaban.

[Tiny Avenger sent a Rocket Ship x2]

Nawala ang kaba ng dalaga. Mabuti na lang at nandyan ang dalawa para sa kanya.

“Thanks, Tiny Avenger. Hug kita kapag magkita.”

If only they could see Tom, they would tease him. The guy’s face was probably flushed in his office.

[Looking forward to it.]

Mia smiled.

[Tangina, nanlalamang.]

[Etong account ni Tom, dummy lang, pero nanghahampas ng kahirapan.]

She visited Tom’s account. Indeed, a dummy. Walang ibang fina-follow o naka-follow. Bigla tuloy napaisip si Mia kung ano ang sadya nito.

For a second, SL felt jealous. Para makabawi ay nagbigay din siya kaso isang carousel lang ulit ang kaya niya.

“Stop sending her gifts!” Hindi naman talaga nanggigigil si Bunny. Naiinggit na lang siya sa mga pantatadtad ng dalawang ito sa kanya. “Daya niyo e!”

Nagtawanan na lamang ang dalawa. Kasabay nito ay ang pagtatapos ng PK, at alam naman na ng lahat kung sino ang nanalo.

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