Off topic, but interesting question I think. I personally liked its addition. If you read it again, the "Hahaha." adds an extra pause that makes the ridiculous

Off topic, but interesting question I think. I personally liked its addition. If you read it again, the "Hahaha." adds an extra pause that makes the ridiculousness of waiting for the ticker to come on screen sink in. The same way someone telling that story in person would pause. It makes it feel more like a real conversation. Without it the reader would have moved on to the next paragraph too quickly.