Chapter 13 (2/2)

“But handsome.” Miko patted his chest before laughing, “No hiccups!”

“Wow!” A fake smile. “Congrats.”

“Thanks!”

Ugh. Can’t he understand the sarcasm from her words? Bwisit.

Jhing winced when she saw the Wattpad books on the shelf. It looked like a hurricane pa.s.sed by as all the books were a mess and filled to the brim. Some of the books’ plastic, covers, and even pages are ruined.

Ah~ The ma.s.s production of Wattpad books craze.

It’s heartbreaking to see piles of Wattpad books in stores as if they weren’t a product of logic, creativity, and hard work. They just left it as it is… because of the quant.i.ty? Because it wasn’t sold out? Because people destroyed it?

“Awtsu, what happened?” Miko frowned.

He tried fixing the displays to make the shelf look neat which made Jhing sigh. His efforts will just be wasted because it looks impossible to fix it, but still, Miko didn’t give up. He sat down on the floor as he put all his dedication to clean the aisle.

He looked up at her. “What the authors will feel when they see their books ruined like this?”

“Happiness.”

“Seriously?”

“You believed my words?” Jhing rolled her eyes and sat next to Miko to help him sort the books. “It hurts. If my books turned like this, I would probably cry.'”

A lot of people think that authors who got their books published are fortunate because they will see their own works in public. However, they didn’t know that books staying too long in bookstores were books that didn’t sell.

And a book that didn’t sell is a story, creativity, and an author’s voice that no one will care about.

It’s not a ‘Wow, you got your books published? Why didn’t you tell me! Oh treat us to dinner!’ or ‘I saw your book in the mall! Awesome! Give me an autograph!’ proud moment.

It’s more than that.

Books should be more than the external celebration.

“Thankfully, I’m a good Samaritan who—hey, this one’s perfect for you!”

For the Hopeless Bitter Melon.

Jhing pushed Miko away. “Bwisit.”

Miko laughed.

The two of them had fun sorting the books ‘by colors which look pleasing to the eye,’ Miko said. They have their own little bubble, ignoring the pa.s.sing people.

“I wonder why these books are not selling well?”

“Too many books. They were even destroyed.” Jhing answered. “But I can’t blame the publishers who are non-stop looking for new novels to sell.”

“Business,” Miko said. “Their operations revolves around money to continue.”

“That. And it’s a scary thing for us,” she added. “It hurts us when we see this situation. They said that undiscovered gems deserve the publis.h.i.+ng world more, but what are they doing—ignoring these books here.”

“Because they’re not selling out,” he added.

“Yeah. Only a few readers will actually search for these hidden gems that got buried in the bookstores,” Jhing stared at a wattpad book which pages’ got torn apart. “If they didn’t sell well after six months, the books will end up in a warehouse to collect dust.”

“Awtsu,” Miko commented. “The dust needs to learn how to read.”

He, Melchizedek Jesus Crux, is a hopeless case.

After a long while of sorting the books by colors, Jhing stood up with her wobbly legs. Miko followed her to line up at the cas.h.i.+er. It was at that moment when they saw Jhing’s published t.i.tles in the near book stand.

“Oh no, your books are on display.”

Too late to hide her face, people looked—stared at her as Miko grabbed all her books. Jhing has the right to ignore him; unfortunately, the idiot walked closer to her with a handful of books.

“I’ll sell them out so it won’t collect dust in the warehouse…. wait— ” Miko went back to the stand and grabbed a book written by Fall, his voice was loud when he explained, “I don’t want Hulog to scold me for not supporting her ah.”

Jhing made sure Miko won’t pay for the books. She slapped his hands a few times because he was insisting to buy everything. After all, he has few five hundred in his wallet because he recently got his salary.

“So they won’t just pa.s.s your books by,” Miko almost whined.

“Someone will still buy and actually read the book.”

Wow, she felt optimistic for a moment there.

“I will read it okay!”

“Just you? Not enough.”

“Oh, fine. I’ll just turn it into flyers to attract readers.”

“Fine,” Jhing snapped. “If that’s what makes you happy. How about you also buy all the books from other bookstores?”

“Awtsu. Jhing is mad.” Miko smiled. “Okay, boss. I won’t buy everything,” He returned the books on the display neatly, “Just one.”

When Jhing glared at him, Miko quickly let go of the books and raised his hands as if surrendering to the police. That gesture ended their scene that almost killed Jhing from humiliation. People watched them with interest!

But that also became the reason for Jhing’s smile before she slept.

What a fool.

A knock woke Jhing up the next day. She grunted. She still has 30 minutes left before her alarm rings! But the knocking didn’t stop so she dragged herself to splash water on her face, and rehydrate before opening the door.

“What—”

A KFC delivery guy.

“Jhing K-Kruks—” The delivery guy looked sorry for p.r.o.nouncing it wrong.. He gave her the paper bag while Jhing wanted to correct the guy, ‘It’s Krus po even though the name spells Crux’ but nevermind.

“I didn’t order—”

“It’s already paid.”

Before closing the door, her neighbor smiled at her teasingly. She’s the one who gave Jhing’s address to Miko last time… G.o.d, they weren’t even close!

She Miko… Miko..

WHAT THE h.e.l.l?

For a reply, he called her with glee on his voice. ‘Morning!’

“What the h.e.l.l?” repeating her text. “What is this?”

‘What is what?’

To play innocent was Miko’s talent.

“KFC Breakfast?”

‘Ahh, let’s eat together?’

“Miko—”

Miko sighed. ‘Just pay me back if that’s what makes your heart, mind, and soul at ease.’

“I will” She looked at the food. It made her hungry! “Why did you give them my name again?”

‘Was I supposed to give mine? Unless you want me to cry blood as I listen to them p.r.o.nounce my Melchizedek all wrong, sure,’ He laughed. ‘But anyway, I already told them your name and my surname on the first delivery ah.’

“You could just use Miko, ah!”

Silence.

‘Ah.’ Another silence before a laugh. ‘Why didn’t I think of that? Eh whatever. It already happened… do I really have to change it?’

On purpose! This is definitely on purpose!

Too early in the morning to argue, Jhing didn’t complain when Miko asked if they can eat breakfast together.

Over the phone.

With a loudspeaker.

It’s a good thing that they weren’t eating together together or else Jhing will rather kill herself than Miko finding out how she’s smiling as tells her different kinds of stories.

And Looorrrd, AM steak bowl of KFC Breakfast is so freaking delicious.

Fine.

She was in a good mood.

Happy, even.

And fine.

Miko was the reason.

That idiot.

But the smile on her lips expired when she stepped into the office lobby earlier than usual and saw Miko sitting on the sofa.

With an unfamiliar woman.

The b.i.t.c.h’s hand “accidentally” dropped near his crotch.

Too soon to be happy?

Miko jerked up and saw Jhing. His eyes darted from Jhing to that woman back and forth. Thankfully, the receptionist was gone, and the guard didn’t see it.

Jhing would just laugh at this cliché situation if Miko says ‘It’s not what you think it is!’ but he didn’t… instead, he stood away from the b.i.t.c.h and hugged himself as if he got a.s.saulted.

“Rape!” he screamed, “My manhood!”

The b.i.t.c.h laughed.

But Jhing didn’t see the humor.

Hah! Funny.

Very f.u.c.king funny.

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