The Casanova's Match

Chapter 8: Live

"We're live for seven hours now, it's eleven already. When are we going to stop?" Aljur whispered to Ice who is sitting beside him. Trying to not let the mic catch what he's saying.

They're now gathered in a circle, still talking to fans through their live stream. Irish has been a hot topic the whole stream, and now people are starting to see her as a friendly cute girl, although she's still not showing herself on screen, she's happily communicating with them.

Ice slightly smiled before turning to talk to Aljur, "Until people don't see her as a threat anymore."

"You better start reading the live chat man, you need to see for yourself."

As if on cue, Angelo handed him a phone showing the fast comments of their live viewers. Some of them are talking about how handsome the five men are, some talking about how Kim yawns after every five seconds, but most of them just wants to talk to Irish.

She's been the one voicing their comments to the band earlier but right now, the questions and comments are for her alone.

"What just happened?" Ice asked, "Irish, punch me in the face. I beg you?" he loudly read in horror. Irish's brows furrowed, she signaled Ice to be quiet behind the camera.

"Do you see what they're saying? You've been reading the cute comments only huh," umingay ang buong bahay dahil sa pagtawa ng lahat. Natawa sila sa panggigigil ni Ice habang pinupunto ang bawat comment na tumutukoy kay Irish.

Si Irish naman ay walang ibang magawa kung hindi ang mamula at manahimik sa sulok.

"Nababaliw na idol n'yo," she whispered to the camera. Ice didn't hear what she said but the flood of laughing emojis on the live chat gave him a hint.

"Anong sinabi mo hoy, bakit sila tumatawa? Ikaw talaga, hahatakin kita, konting konti nalang talaga!"

"Heh! 'Wag ka nang maingay, nakikita ka ng mga fans mo oh nagwawala ka."

Ice didn't care much. He knows that the people are enjoying the banter as from what he could tell through the responses.

"Tinatawag kayong Mama at Papa." Putol ni Kim sa dalawa. Tahimik siyang nilingon ni Ice at Irish na parang tinatanong siya sa kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. "Oh, 'to sabi nila. Ma, Pa, 'wag na po kayong mag-away," he read.

"Yuck, Ma, Pa? Okay lang ba kayo?" tutol naman ng dalaga. Sa kabila ng pagtutol niya, ay siya namang pag ngisi ni Ice, parang nagustuhan pa nito ang pagbibiro ng mga viewers.

Mang-aasar pa sana si Ice pero napansin niya na humikab na si Irish. She's been tired all day and now they're staying up super late.

He faced the camera and cleared his throat, "This afternoon I decided to do this live stream not only to talk to you guys," he said. His members already know that he's being very serious right now.

"After class, out school was surrounded by people from the media. Or people that wants to take pictures of us, for one reason. To gossip about me and Irish. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind issues, as some of you might have known from the past."

Patagong natawa si Kim at Angelo dahil naalala nila ang dami ng mga babae na na-issue kay Ice dahil naging maloko ito noon.

"So, what I'm trying to say is that, I tried to show you guys who Irish is. I wanted all of you to know the girl that some of you were bashing. I have seen death threats that were posted online and it disgusted me, not gonna lie." Irish looked at him with worry in her eyes. For a second, their eyes met and Ice gave her a reassuring smile that calmed her down.

"Because we are public figures, that doesn't mean that the society owns us. We still have lives of our own, the five of us have found a new friend. I bet you have seen how each of us interacted with her the whole time," his friends nodded in agreement.

"We really like her personality," Angelo agreed.

"You know guys, Irish doesn't even know that we're a band." Natatawang sabi naman ni Kim.

"Yup, she even bullies us in school! Can you believe it!" Aljur joked, si Fyren naman ay tumango lamang.

"See, we all like her. And she easily became one of our few friends outside the industry. It's just sad that because of us, she received so much hate. We just want to have fun in school, hang out you know."

On the live chat, people have started to empathize with their idols, some are even apologizing.

"She's not used to this hate and backlash, she gets enough of that in school. Luckily the five of us can easily protect her. So please, just leave her alone. She's not stealing us or anything, nobody even owns us in the first place."

Irish's hands trembled, looking down at the phone in her hand. She read the fast messages of people apologizing, people saying that they should all protect her because she's a great sweet person.

"As you may have guessed by now, yes she's staying in our house tonight. Because earlier was so scary that people might follow her home if we let her go and-"

Napahinto si Ice dahil nakarinig siya nang mahinang hikbi mula sa dalaga. He rushed to her direction instantly. Fyren was quick enough to move near the camera and talk about how people should never stalk them. Pero hindi umubra ang pagsingit niya, the viewers can clearly hear the soft sobs coming from the only girl.

"Sshh, it's okay. You don't have to worry now." Ice said in a low voice.

"Sorry, ngayon lang kasi nag-sink in sa akin yung totoong nararamdaman ko kanina." she tried to move away from the camera.

"I know, you were scared the whole time." Irish nodded. Her big brown eyes are watery, looking up at Ice.

He felt a strong feeling in his heart as if he was stabbed by a hundred nails and the only way he can stop it is by hugging her tightly. A feeling of his shirt getting wet was what's left of it.

"Tama na, 'wag ka na umiyak."

"Natakot ako kanina, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari, natakot ako na baka masundan ako tapos kung ano pa ang mangyari kay Mama-"

"Nothing will happen, our fans are not dumb Irish. They support us with everything we do. At siguro naman nakita nila kung ano ka talaga, by now they should have clearly see how precious you are. You don't deserve the hate, I know the real ones will know that and I trust them, okay?"

Taliwas sa inaakala ng lahat, naririnig pa rin ng malinaw ang pag-uusap ng dalawa. At ngayon ay mas lalo pang dumadami ang paghanga ng mga tao kay Ice at pati na rin kay Irish. They can tell that Irish is the total opposite of what the bashers paint her to be. And Irish started to have a bunch of supporters of her own.

"Guys, this is now the end of our stream. Magpapahinga na muna kami at anong oras na." Kim bid farewell and cut the cameras to let the two talk in private.

After the stream, Kim angrily stood up, with both hands on her hips staring at the two.

"Hoy kayong dalawang aso, kanina lang todo bestie energy kayo! Ngayon kung magyakapan kayo, parang kulang nalang magkapalit kayo ng amoy!"