-
An addendum to Rule 3 regarding fan-translated works of things such as Web Novels has been made. Please see here for details.
-
We've issued a clarification on our policy on AI-generated work.
-
Our mod selection process has completed. Please welcome our new moderators.
-
Due to issues with external spam filters, QQ is currently unable to send any mail to Microsoft E-mail addresses. This includes any account at live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com. Signing up to the forum with one of these addresses will result in your verification E-mail never arriving. For best results, please use a different E-mail provider for your QQ address.
-
The rules regarding NSFW links have been updated. See here for details.
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Thank you
Chapter 137
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 137
"Mrs. Wanda, we will invite you and the others to our house for a house blessing once everything settles down."
"I will definitely attend." Mrs. Wanda smiled and hugged Maya tightly. She waved her hand at the twins, who waved back. Mrs. Wanda was such a great grandma, she treated the twins with lots of food, often sneaking them snacks when Maya wasn't looking.
Even Foster was a little sad. Now that Karlos was going to leave, the villa was going to be lonely again. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at Karlos for the last time. He wouldn't have a drinking partner again, someone to share alcohol and stories with after tiring days.
With that, the truck left, accompanied by the entire Alejandro family. They were going to part ways from now on, as the Alejandro family would start their new chapter.
When they reached the beachside, Karlos's friends were already present to help them move their belongings inside.
Andres, Jerry, and Brandon were there. As for Domingo, he was working today as usual, so he couldn't help.
The men carried the heavy items into the house while Maya took care of the kids with the help of Reina, Andres' wife. The women also prepared something to eat.
The move took approximately an hour to complete. By that time, Maya had already cooked simple meals for them.
Karlos paid the driver and the porters and added tips to show his appreciation for their hard work.
With that, Karlos and Maya returned to the beachside. They still couldn't believe that they had a house now. And not just a simple house, but a proper one that looked beautiful.
As for the twins, they were clueless that their kubo was long gone, their memories too short to feel any sense of loss. It had now turned into an L-shaped house. They looked around innocently, their eyes wide with curiosity. The place looked bright but empty.
So far, the only furniture was a cabinet, a bedframe, and a table. The appliances consisted of a television, a stove, and an electric fan.
The twins looked around... The place was quite wide, perfect for exploring. They decided to roam the living room with their baby walkers and giggled as they moved across the smooth tiles.
"After my fishing tomorrow, let's buy furniture and appliances," Karlos said.
"Alright, I already wrote down what we need."
"Let's buy everything in one go so we don't have to keep coming back."
"Are you sure?" Maya asked.
"Let's buy them in one place so the delivery won't be a hassle. If we buy in bulk, the store won't have a problem using their truck. They'll gladly accommodate us."
"Babe, I'm thinking of buying an oven. Mrs. Wanda taught me how to bake, and she also gave me a recipe book for bread and pastries," Maya said excitedly. She was interested in baking because she wanted to feed her family homemade desserts.
"Not a problem. Let's buy everything you need and want."
"What about the money?"
"Well, buying all the appliances and furniture isn't going to exceed 1 million pesos, right?"
"... I don't know." Maya wasn't sure.
"Look at the stove you used earlier. Isn't it tough to cook using wood? We should buy a gas stove. It's safer and faster."
"Alright."
"Our house is brand new. Since we already spent a lot on the house, let's go all out and buy everything."
"Even a blender?"
"Why are you asking about a blender? A blender isn't really that expensive," Karlos said.
"Really? I thought a blender could cost 5,000 pesos."
"Probably not that expensive. We'll see tomorrow."
A week ago, Karlos sought out an old carpenter, one of their neighbors, to make bedframes, tables, and other wooden furniture such as cabinets and wardrobes. So far, the carpenter had already delivered a table and a bedframe.
They placed the table in the dining room, while the bedframe went into the master bedroom. The family would sleep on the bedframe together.
At night, the family had a hard time sleeping... The bed had no mattress to cushion them, only thin layers of bedding separating them from the wood. The twins had it slightly better because they were on a soft bedsheet, but it wasn't bouncy, so they couldn't play on it, which disappointed them. Maya and Karlos decided they must buy the best mattress available for better sleep.
Now that they had experienced luxury, they didn't want to punish themselves.
Around midnight, while the couple was asleep, Arabella cried after peeing herself. Naturally, Iñigo followed suit and soiled his diaper.
Karlos woke up and changed their diapers. He was used to the kids' midnight cries. He worked quickly so Maya wouldn't be disturbed and could continue resting.
However, when the twins tried to sleep again, the bedsheet wasn't comfortable enough, and they kept tossing around. Instinctively, they searched for a better spot. They found Maya sleeping on her back and they lay on her stomach.
They were too heavy, and Maya woke up having difficulty breathing. She looked at her children and found them sleeping soundly on her stomach and chest, completely relaxed.
She sighed and woke up Karlos, who had barely fallen asleep minutes earlier.
"Take them off me. They're too heavy. Let them sleep on your stomach if they don't want to sleep on the bedsheet." Being woken up, Maya was slightly irritated.
Karlos had no choice but to comply and placed the twins on his chest and stomach, accepting his fate. The rise and fall of his breathing made them comfortable, like gentle waves.
.........
......
...
The next day, after fishing, Karlos returned to the beach with Brandon. This time, he didn't have to dock his boat at the bay harbor anymore.
With money and receipts in his hands, he found that his wife was already prepared and dressed properly. They could leave at any moment to buy furniture and appliances.
As for the twins...
"Mama!! Waahhh!"
"No! Mama! Papa! Waahhh!"
They tried to leave the twins with Reina, but the children cried loudly and dramatically. It seemed they were learning and had realized that their parents were going somewhere nice without them. Absolutely not allowed.
The twins wanted to go with them. Karlos and Maya looked at each other helplessly.
"Let's take them and put them in strollers," Maya sighed in resignation. Her children were growing up and becoming more difficult to handle. They were one year and four months old after all, curious and stubborn. Fortunately, their strollers were foldable and didn't take up much space in the tricycle.
---
[Thank you for reading this novel. You can read more on my Patreon.]
"Mrs. Wanda, we will invite you and the others to our house for a house blessing once everything settles down."
"I will definitely attend." Mrs. Wanda smiled and hugged Maya tightly. She waved her hand at the twins, who waved back. Mrs. Wanda was such a great grandma, she treated the twins with lots of food, often sneaking them snacks when Maya wasn't looking.
Even Foster was a little sad. Now that Karlos was going to leave, the villa was going to be lonely again. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled at Karlos for the last time. He wouldn't have a drinking partner again, someone to share alcohol and stories with after tiring days.
With that, the truck left, accompanied by the entire Alejandro family. They were going to part ways from now on, as the Alejandro family would start their new chapter.
When they reached the beachside, Karlos's friends were already present to help them move their belongings inside.
Andres, Jerry, and Brandon were there. As for Domingo, he was working today as usual, so he couldn't help.
The men carried the heavy items into the house while Maya took care of the kids with the help of Reina, Andres' wife. The women also prepared something to eat.
The move took approximately an hour to complete. By that time, Maya had already cooked simple meals for them.
Karlos paid the driver and the porters and added tips to show his appreciation for their hard work.
With that, Karlos and Maya returned to the beachside. They still couldn't believe that they had a house now. And not just a simple house, but a proper one that looked beautiful.
As for the twins, they were clueless that their kubo was long gone, their memories too short to feel any sense of loss. It had now turned into an L-shaped house. They looked around innocently, their eyes wide with curiosity. The place looked bright but empty.
So far, the only furniture was a cabinet, a bedframe, and a table. The appliances consisted of a television, a stove, and an electric fan.
The twins looked around... The place was quite wide, perfect for exploring. They decided to roam the living room with their baby walkers and giggled as they moved across the smooth tiles.
"After my fishing tomorrow, let's buy furniture and appliances," Karlos said.
"Alright, I already wrote down what we need."
"Let's buy everything in one go so we don't have to keep coming back."
"Are you sure?" Maya asked.
"Let's buy them in one place so the delivery won't be a hassle. If we buy in bulk, the store won't have a problem using their truck. They'll gladly accommodate us."
"Babe, I'm thinking of buying an oven. Mrs. Wanda taught me how to bake, and she also gave me a recipe book for bread and pastries," Maya said excitedly. She was interested in baking because she wanted to feed her family homemade desserts.
"Not a problem. Let's buy everything you need and want."
"What about the money?"
"Well, buying all the appliances and furniture isn't going to exceed 1 million pesos, right?"
"... I don't know." Maya wasn't sure.
"Look at the stove you used earlier. Isn't it tough to cook using wood? We should buy a gas stove. It's safer and faster."
"Alright."
"Our house is brand new. Since we already spent a lot on the house, let's go all out and buy everything."
"Even a blender?"
"Why are you asking about a blender? A blender isn't really that expensive," Karlos said.
"Really? I thought a blender could cost 5,000 pesos."
"Probably not that expensive. We'll see tomorrow."
A week ago, Karlos sought out an old carpenter, one of their neighbors, to make bedframes, tables, and other wooden furniture such as cabinets and wardrobes. So far, the carpenter had already delivered a table and a bedframe.
They placed the table in the dining room, while the bedframe went into the master bedroom. The family would sleep on the bedframe together.
At night, the family had a hard time sleeping... The bed had no mattress to cushion them, only thin layers of bedding separating them from the wood. The twins had it slightly better because they were on a soft bedsheet, but it wasn't bouncy, so they couldn't play on it, which disappointed them. Maya and Karlos decided they must buy the best mattress available for better sleep.
Now that they had experienced luxury, they didn't want to punish themselves.
Around midnight, while the couple was asleep, Arabella cried after peeing herself. Naturally, Iñigo followed suit and soiled his diaper.
Karlos woke up and changed their diapers. He was used to the kids' midnight cries. He worked quickly so Maya wouldn't be disturbed and could continue resting.
However, when the twins tried to sleep again, the bedsheet wasn't comfortable enough, and they kept tossing around. Instinctively, they searched for a better spot. They found Maya sleeping on her back and they lay on her stomach.
They were too heavy, and Maya woke up having difficulty breathing. She looked at her children and found them sleeping soundly on her stomach and chest, completely relaxed.
She sighed and woke up Karlos, who had barely fallen asleep minutes earlier.
"Take them off me. They're too heavy. Let them sleep on your stomach if they don't want to sleep on the bedsheet." Being woken up, Maya was slightly irritated.
Karlos had no choice but to comply and placed the twins on his chest and stomach, accepting his fate. The rise and fall of his breathing made them comfortable, like gentle waves.
.........
......
...
The next day, after fishing, Karlos returned to the beach with Brandon. This time, he didn't have to dock his boat at the bay harbor anymore.
With money and receipts in his hands, he found that his wife was already prepared and dressed properly. They could leave at any moment to buy furniture and appliances.
As for the twins...
"Mama!! Waahhh!"
"No! Mama! Papa! Waahhh!"
They tried to leave the twins with Reina, but the children cried loudly and dramatically. It seemed they were learning and had realized that their parents were going somewhere nice without them. Absolutely not allowed.
The twins wanted to go with them. Karlos and Maya looked at each other helplessly.
"Let's take them and put them in strollers," Maya sighed in resignation. Her children were growing up and becoming more difficult to handle. They were one year and four months old after all, curious and stubborn. Fortunately, their strollers were foldable and didn't take up much space in the tricycle.
---
[Thank you for reading this novel. You can read more on my Patreon.]
Chapter 138
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 138
They hired a tricycle to take them to the central plaza, where a huge appliance store stood, a well-known place in the town. It was the same store where the family bought their television last year.
When they entered the place, the twins were mesmerized by the items around them. The place was colossal for toddlers like them, with towering shelves and wide aisles making them feel small, and every shelf was filled with a variety of items.
They didn't know the purpose of each appliance, but everything looked slick and futuristic, making them happy, their excitement simple and pure. Their eyes widened as they pointed at random machines, babbling happily.
As expected, their parents would go to a nice place. They were bad parents for trying to leave them behind and go to this nice place, or so the twins believed.
Maya pulled out a paper. She had listed all of the things they needed. She wasn't lying when she said she already listed every item thoroughly. Her handwriting was neat, and she had determined eyes. Regardless of the price, they would buy everything, although she hoped it wouldn't be expensive.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, Sir, are you looking for something?" a female sales clerk asked the family. She looked at the couple, then at the twins in the strollers, quickly assessing the situation.
"Yeah, about that... Can you help us look for this stuff?" Maya passed the paper to the woman.
"Eh? Huh? I mean— HUH!?" The sales clerk was shocked when she saw the things listed. If she ballparked the price, everything on the list would be over 100,000 pesos, an amount few customers spent at once!
That was freaking huge, even by her experience!
A big customer! She met a big spender. The sales clerk could get a commission out of this.
"Absolutely, Ma'am! I'll take care of it."
"Thank you so much." Maya appreciated her enthusiasm. They had twins to take care of, and it would take them a long time to search for each appliance if they explored the store. It was troublesome, especially with the twins pointing at almost everything, their energy endless.
Of course, Karlos was there to make sure all of the items they brought were working perfectly. He checked the switches, handles, plugs, and everything.
The sales clerk contacted her manager. The manager grew excited when he saw the list and immediately contacted more people to take care of the job. They wanted this sale to go through and succeed smoothly.
Yet despite the fact that there were more people working together, it still took three hours for all of the items to arrive. Karlos checked those he could check.
The manager promised the family that they would receive warranties and a 5% discount, making the family satisfied, especially Maya.
"The delivery truck? No problem, Sir. We will definitely deliver these items today, with no delivery fees. Can we get your address and contact information? Is your house near the road?"
"Yes, it's next to the street."
"That is great to hear, Sir."
If their house was far from the road, the porters didn't have a choice but to carry the items by hand. Fortunately, the Alejandro family's house was close to the road, making things easier for everyone involved.
When the computation arrived, Karlos and Maya were slightly shocked that their purchases cost them 139,000 pesos. Fortunately, they had enough cash on hand to pay. Maya squeezed Karlos's arm as she paid. Even with a 5% discount, it was still a huge amount of money.
The cashier confirmed the amount and gave them the receipt. The manager was happy about the big profit and assured them that the delivery would arrive that day with confidence. He was smiling as they waved them goodbye.
The family bought donuts, four slices of cake, and a whole roasted chicken before returning to the beachside.
The delivery truck arrived shortly after, and it was another job of carrying stuff. Maya confirmed that everything on the list was present before bidding the delivery team farewell. Karlos gave them tips, and the porters thanked him before leaving.
The couple looked at the appliances spread across the house. Since the porters helped them carry the furniture and appliances, Maya took advantage of that and put them in the spots she wanted them to be.
She smiled and rubbed the slick surface of their brand-new refrigerator. The idea of drinking cold, refreshing water in the middle of summer was so great. Now, the idea was no longer just an idea, it was reality.
She couldn't help but feel emotional, so she wiped her tears. At last, they had completed all the appliances and furniture in the house.
Even the children felt comfortable on the sofa, although the plastic cover made crinkly sounds whenever they tried to move.
Arabella frowned as she wanted to feel the touch of fabric instead of the smooth plastic. She tried to tear up the plastic cover, but her small hands were not strong enough, no matter how hard she tried.
"Nope, nope, you will not tear the plastic. Here, give me a minute." Maya saw her daughter's relentless movement against the plastic that protected the sofa. Maya wanted to maintain the brand-new appearance of the sofa for a long time, so she didn't want to tear the plastic.
Instead, she put the twins on the floor and let them crawl once in a while. She then used a sofa cover and put it over the sofa to protect it from Arabella's curious hands, a compromise.
She looked at her living room. There was the TV stand, complete with the television and VHS player. Yes, VHS was still the preferred player back in 2001, as most movies were on VHS tapes.
There was a sofa and a small coffee table in front of it. Maya nodded, satisfied with what they bought.
Then, she checked the kitchen, where Karlos was setting up the gas stove.
"Everything's done," Karlos said.
Maya looked at the nice-looking kitchen, bright and organized. There was an oven, microwave, refrigerator, blender, and stove, everything they needed.
"Let's buy a lot of food tomorrow to fill up the refrigerator," Karlos said to Maya.
"Hm, let's buy fruits too. I want to try and make a fruit shake for the children."
The couple looked at each other and smiled, sharing a quiet moment. Karlos approached her and lightly kissed her lips.
"You look beautiful as always," he said, putting his hands on her waist affectionately.
"Karlos, we've been married for years," Maya smirked. "I know what you're thinking. We won't buy beer."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Karlos tried to act innocent. He didn't expect his wife to catch his intention so fast.
---
[Thank you for reading this novel. You can read more on my Patreon.]
They hired a tricycle to take them to the central plaza, where a huge appliance store stood, a well-known place in the town. It was the same store where the family bought their television last year.
When they entered the place, the twins were mesmerized by the items around them. The place was colossal for toddlers like them, with towering shelves and wide aisles making them feel small, and every shelf was filled with a variety of items.
They didn't know the purpose of each appliance, but everything looked slick and futuristic, making them happy, their excitement simple and pure. Their eyes widened as they pointed at random machines, babbling happily.
As expected, their parents would go to a nice place. They were bad parents for trying to leave them behind and go to this nice place, or so the twins believed.
Maya pulled out a paper. She had listed all of the things they needed. She wasn't lying when she said she already listed every item thoroughly. Her handwriting was neat, and she had determined eyes. Regardless of the price, they would buy everything, although she hoped it wouldn't be expensive.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, Sir, are you looking for something?" a female sales clerk asked the family. She looked at the couple, then at the twins in the strollers, quickly assessing the situation.
"Yeah, about that... Can you help us look for this stuff?" Maya passed the paper to the woman.
"Eh? Huh? I mean— HUH!?" The sales clerk was shocked when she saw the things listed. If she ballparked the price, everything on the list would be over 100,000 pesos, an amount few customers spent at once!
That was freaking huge, even by her experience!
A big customer! She met a big spender. The sales clerk could get a commission out of this.
"Absolutely, Ma'am! I'll take care of it."
"Thank you so much." Maya appreciated her enthusiasm. They had twins to take care of, and it would take them a long time to search for each appliance if they explored the store. It was troublesome, especially with the twins pointing at almost everything, their energy endless.
Of course, Karlos was there to make sure all of the items they brought were working perfectly. He checked the switches, handles, plugs, and everything.
The sales clerk contacted her manager. The manager grew excited when he saw the list and immediately contacted more people to take care of the job. They wanted this sale to go through and succeed smoothly.
Yet despite the fact that there were more people working together, it still took three hours for all of the items to arrive. Karlos checked those he could check.
The manager promised the family that they would receive warranties and a 5% discount, making the family satisfied, especially Maya.
"The delivery truck? No problem, Sir. We will definitely deliver these items today, with no delivery fees. Can we get your address and contact information? Is your house near the road?"
"Yes, it's next to the street."
"That is great to hear, Sir."
If their house was far from the road, the porters didn't have a choice but to carry the items by hand. Fortunately, the Alejandro family's house was close to the road, making things easier for everyone involved.
When the computation arrived, Karlos and Maya were slightly shocked that their purchases cost them 139,000 pesos. Fortunately, they had enough cash on hand to pay. Maya squeezed Karlos's arm as she paid. Even with a 5% discount, it was still a huge amount of money.
The cashier confirmed the amount and gave them the receipt. The manager was happy about the big profit and assured them that the delivery would arrive that day with confidence. He was smiling as they waved them goodbye.
The family bought donuts, four slices of cake, and a whole roasted chicken before returning to the beachside.
The delivery truck arrived shortly after, and it was another job of carrying stuff. Maya confirmed that everything on the list was present before bidding the delivery team farewell. Karlos gave them tips, and the porters thanked him before leaving.
The couple looked at the appliances spread across the house. Since the porters helped them carry the furniture and appliances, Maya took advantage of that and put them in the spots she wanted them to be.
She smiled and rubbed the slick surface of their brand-new refrigerator. The idea of drinking cold, refreshing water in the middle of summer was so great. Now, the idea was no longer just an idea, it was reality.
She couldn't help but feel emotional, so she wiped her tears. At last, they had completed all the appliances and furniture in the house.
Even the children felt comfortable on the sofa, although the plastic cover made crinkly sounds whenever they tried to move.
Arabella frowned as she wanted to feel the touch of fabric instead of the smooth plastic. She tried to tear up the plastic cover, but her small hands were not strong enough, no matter how hard she tried.
"Nope, nope, you will not tear the plastic. Here, give me a minute." Maya saw her daughter's relentless movement against the plastic that protected the sofa. Maya wanted to maintain the brand-new appearance of the sofa for a long time, so she didn't want to tear the plastic.
Instead, she put the twins on the floor and let them crawl once in a while. She then used a sofa cover and put it over the sofa to protect it from Arabella's curious hands, a compromise.
She looked at her living room. There was the TV stand, complete with the television and VHS player. Yes, VHS was still the preferred player back in 2001, as most movies were on VHS tapes.
There was a sofa and a small coffee table in front of it. Maya nodded, satisfied with what they bought.
Then, she checked the kitchen, where Karlos was setting up the gas stove.
"Everything's done," Karlos said.
Maya looked at the nice-looking kitchen, bright and organized. There was an oven, microwave, refrigerator, blender, and stove, everything they needed.
"Let's buy a lot of food tomorrow to fill up the refrigerator," Karlos said to Maya.
"Hm, let's buy fruits too. I want to try and make a fruit shake for the children."
The couple looked at each other and smiled, sharing a quiet moment. Karlos approached her and lightly kissed her lips.
"You look beautiful as always," he said, putting his hands on her waist affectionately.
"Karlos, we've been married for years," Maya smirked. "I know what you're thinking. We won't buy beer."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Karlos tried to act innocent. He didn't expect his wife to catch his intention so fast.
---
[Thank you for reading this novel. You can read more on my Patreon.]
Chapter 139
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 139
"I will not buy beer," she said sternly.
"Babe, please."
Karlos hugged her and showed his pitiful face. Maya laughed and lightly smacked his shoulder, unable to stay serious.
"How about I treat you to something nice later?" His voice lowered.
"Oh? What is it?" Maya raised her brow.
"We can..." Karlos whispered right beside her ear, and Maya's heart beat fast. Her face reddened when she heard what he whispered.
"What are you talking about? T-That's, you brute!" She covered her mouth.
"Come on. The mattress and bed frame are brand new, and they can withstand what's about to happen. We also bought a bigger baby crib for the twins. They don't have to sleep with us anymore. We can..." Karlos further whispered as his hands slowly moved down to her...
"Staph~" Maya slapped his hand, not too hard.
Unfortunately, no matter how much Maya tried to deflect Karlos, she was too "weak" to say no. After some kisses here and there, she agreed to buy a case of beer, a compromise she accepted. Karlos was satisfied with that.
.........
......
...
The next day, Brandon and Karlos finished their job at 11 a.m. and returned to the beach, the sun already high. They earned 48,000 pesos today.
However, a shocking event occurred that day.
"This..."
Karlos and Brandon looked at the fishing vessel a few hundred meters away from the shore, its silhouette imposing. It was a commercial trawler boat, about 25 meters long, far larger than bangkas, a common type of fishing vessel in their region.
Being a big boat, it couldn't dock on land, or else it would be stranded as the hull was too deep. Hence, a big boat like this needed to anchor farther from the shore where the water was deeper.
"This boat is new. I've never seen it on our shore," Brandon muttered.
Having big fishing vessels at their shore was not a new thing, although they could only be counted on one hand. The boat captains living on the beachside preferred to anchor their fishing vessels at the shore instead of the bay harbor because it was closer and less hassle in transportation.
But the boat they were seeing right now looked new, its fresh paint visible. The two quickly caught on. Another fisherman bought a commercial trawler boat, a bold move.
It was a medium-sized commercial trawler boat that could travel farther into deeper waters. It had bigger storage with a freezer hold and refrigeration, and the fish would last longer. This was storage that bangkas usually didn't have. It also had a wheelhouse where the captain operated the boat, unlike a bangka, which didn't even have a separate room because of space issues. Well, it was big for a reason. It also had radio communication.
Aside from long-lasting fish storage, the fishing vessel also had a trawl winch, a powerful machine that pulled nets, unlike bangkas that needed manpower to pull them.
Yeah, it was a better boat, no denying it. Its major upgrades were the stronger engine, a trawl winch, refrigeration, radio communication, and bigger space.
The two men looked at the boat before leaving the beach. On their way home, they saw that a lot of people were standing in front of Antonio's house.
"Antonio, is it true the new boat at the shore is yours?" they asked. Antonio, the fisherman, was grinning and didn't deny it.
"Yes, it's mine. Haha, I decided to buy a bigger boat and try my luck catching tuna," he laughed loudly.
"So it's true," someone whispered.
The neighbors murmured. Karlos and Brandon listened since they were present and standing nearby.
"How much was the boat?"
"20 million pesos."
"Sheesh."
They hissed when they heard the price. It was too expensive.
"How did you afford it?"
The curious onlookers always wanted to know, they couldn't help it.
"I saved some money and also earned a lot during last year's salmon and tuna season. My boat caught a lot of Bluefin and Yellowfin tuna last year."
The neighbors had also heard about that. Some fishermen stared at Antonio with envy. They also wanted to buy a bigger boat and fish in deeper waters. The fish near the shore were small and few after decades of endless fishing. But the farther out to sea, the better and more abundant the catch.
However, they knew it would take years or even decades to save enough money to buy a medium-sized fishing vessel. And by that time, would it even be worth it? The price of a boat would only increase as the years went by.
Antonio was happy, but he was also nervous. All of his savings were spent on the fishing boat, a big gamble. He was not sure if his decision was right or wrong, as he knew the ocean was unpredictable. He had been a fisherman for many years. He first ordered a 10-meter bangka from the shipyard but decided to upgrade to a commercial fishing boat instead.
He hoped that his new boat would perform well in December and catch a lot of salmon and tuna. That way, he could feel at ease.
"So what about your bangka? Are you going to sell it?" It seemed that some people were interested in buying Antonio's bangka for a second-hand price.
His bangka was mid-sized and three to four people could operate it. Besides, it was a bangka that caught a lot of salmon and tuna last year with proven luck. It might be blessed by the sea.
"No, I won't sell it." Antonio shook his head. He had no intention of selling the bangka as it was still in good condition.
"Why not?" someone asked quickly.
"My second son doesn't want to pursue college, and he wants to be a fisherman. I'll give him the bangka instead," Antonio announced.
"Tonight, my family will celebrate. Please come by later," Antonio added. He said he wanted to take a rest, he was tired. Being the center of attention was fulfilling, but it was time to rest, and he excused himself.
Karlos and Brandon carried the fishing equipment to Karlos's house. Once done, Brandon bid farewell and headed home.
Karlos was thinking about what he heard from Antonio. A 25-meter commercial trawler boat costs 20 million pesos... Sheesh, Karlos also hissed at that price.
'Seems like I need to take it slow,' he sighed.
Karlos already had a plan for this year. First, he wanted to buy a sidecar since they needed transportation whenever they bought groceries and visited other places.
As for buying a mid-size bangka, that was also on his mind. He just wanted to buy a sidecar first since it was cheaper and more realistic.
---
[Author's Note:]
You can read more on my Patreon with:
81 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
63 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii
"I will not buy beer," she said sternly.
"Babe, please."
Karlos hugged her and showed his pitiful face. Maya laughed and lightly smacked his shoulder, unable to stay serious.
"How about I treat you to something nice later?" His voice lowered.
"Oh? What is it?" Maya raised her brow.
"We can..." Karlos whispered right beside her ear, and Maya's heart beat fast. Her face reddened when she heard what he whispered.
"What are you talking about? T-That's, you brute!" She covered her mouth.
"Come on. The mattress and bed frame are brand new, and they can withstand what's about to happen. We also bought a bigger baby crib for the twins. They don't have to sleep with us anymore. We can..." Karlos further whispered as his hands slowly moved down to her...
"Staph~" Maya slapped his hand, not too hard.
Unfortunately, no matter how much Maya tried to deflect Karlos, she was too "weak" to say no. After some kisses here and there, she agreed to buy a case of beer, a compromise she accepted. Karlos was satisfied with that.
.........
......
...
The next day, Brandon and Karlos finished their job at 11 a.m. and returned to the beach, the sun already high. They earned 48,000 pesos today.
However, a shocking event occurred that day.
"This..."
Karlos and Brandon looked at the fishing vessel a few hundred meters away from the shore, its silhouette imposing. It was a commercial trawler boat, about 25 meters long, far larger than bangkas, a common type of fishing vessel in their region.
Being a big boat, it couldn't dock on land, or else it would be stranded as the hull was too deep. Hence, a big boat like this needed to anchor farther from the shore where the water was deeper.
"This boat is new. I've never seen it on our shore," Brandon muttered.
Having big fishing vessels at their shore was not a new thing, although they could only be counted on one hand. The boat captains living on the beachside preferred to anchor their fishing vessels at the shore instead of the bay harbor because it was closer and less hassle in transportation.
But the boat they were seeing right now looked new, its fresh paint visible. The two quickly caught on. Another fisherman bought a commercial trawler boat, a bold move.
It was a medium-sized commercial trawler boat that could travel farther into deeper waters. It had bigger storage with a freezer hold and refrigeration, and the fish would last longer. This was storage that bangkas usually didn't have. It also had a wheelhouse where the captain operated the boat, unlike a bangka, which didn't even have a separate room because of space issues. Well, it was big for a reason. It also had radio communication.
Aside from long-lasting fish storage, the fishing vessel also had a trawl winch, a powerful machine that pulled nets, unlike bangkas that needed manpower to pull them.
Yeah, it was a better boat, no denying it. Its major upgrades were the stronger engine, a trawl winch, refrigeration, radio communication, and bigger space.
The two men looked at the boat before leaving the beach. On their way home, they saw that a lot of people were standing in front of Antonio's house.
"Antonio, is it true the new boat at the shore is yours?" they asked. Antonio, the fisherman, was grinning and didn't deny it.
"Yes, it's mine. Haha, I decided to buy a bigger boat and try my luck catching tuna," he laughed loudly.
"So it's true," someone whispered.
The neighbors murmured. Karlos and Brandon listened since they were present and standing nearby.
"How much was the boat?"
"20 million pesos."
"Sheesh."
They hissed when they heard the price. It was too expensive.
"How did you afford it?"
The curious onlookers always wanted to know, they couldn't help it.
"I saved some money and also earned a lot during last year's salmon and tuna season. My boat caught a lot of Bluefin and Yellowfin tuna last year."
The neighbors had also heard about that. Some fishermen stared at Antonio with envy. They also wanted to buy a bigger boat and fish in deeper waters. The fish near the shore were small and few after decades of endless fishing. But the farther out to sea, the better and more abundant the catch.
However, they knew it would take years or even decades to save enough money to buy a medium-sized fishing vessel. And by that time, would it even be worth it? The price of a boat would only increase as the years went by.
Antonio was happy, but he was also nervous. All of his savings were spent on the fishing boat, a big gamble. He was not sure if his decision was right or wrong, as he knew the ocean was unpredictable. He had been a fisherman for many years. He first ordered a 10-meter bangka from the shipyard but decided to upgrade to a commercial fishing boat instead.
He hoped that his new boat would perform well in December and catch a lot of salmon and tuna. That way, he could feel at ease.
"So what about your bangka? Are you going to sell it?" It seemed that some people were interested in buying Antonio's bangka for a second-hand price.
His bangka was mid-sized and three to four people could operate it. Besides, it was a bangka that caught a lot of salmon and tuna last year with proven luck. It might be blessed by the sea.
"No, I won't sell it." Antonio shook his head. He had no intention of selling the bangka as it was still in good condition.
"Why not?" someone asked quickly.
"My second son doesn't want to pursue college, and he wants to be a fisherman. I'll give him the bangka instead," Antonio announced.
"Tonight, my family will celebrate. Please come by later," Antonio added. He said he wanted to take a rest, he was tired. Being the center of attention was fulfilling, but it was time to rest, and he excused himself.
Karlos and Brandon carried the fishing equipment to Karlos's house. Once done, Brandon bid farewell and headed home.
Karlos was thinking about what he heard from Antonio. A 25-meter commercial trawler boat costs 20 million pesos... Sheesh, Karlos also hissed at that price.
'Seems like I need to take it slow,' he sighed.
Karlos already had a plan for this year. First, he wanted to buy a sidecar since they needed transportation whenever they bought groceries and visited other places.
As for buying a mid-size bangka, that was also on his mind. He just wanted to buy a sidecar first since it was cheaper and more realistic.
---
[Author's Note:]
You can read more on my Patreon with:
81 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
63 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii
Chapter 140
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 140
Karlos opened the door and found the twins watching a children's show. Maya was in the kitchen, cooking their lunch.
"Papa!"
The twins ran excitedly and hugged his legs, which made Karlos smile. He decided to forget about work today and entertain his children instead. Family first. He carried them to the sofa and sat down next to them.
"Did you miss Papa?"
"Yes!" they answered at the same time.
"Babe, what beef dish do you want?" Maya wiped her hands using her apron.
"Beef Caldereta. Also, I have three lobsters and a kilogram of abalones today. Let's cook them tonight." Karlos handed a plastic bag to her.
"Alright, I'll put them in the refrigerator. Your clothes are already prepared in the room. Change into them, then look after the children while I'm cooking," she instructed.
Karlos stood up and listened to his wife's command obediently. He went to the bedroom and changed clothes, then returned to the living room. There was a pitcher of cold water on the coffee table for him. He drank two glasses of water and felt refreshed.
He then sat on the sofa, looking at the children. Arabella and Iñigo's eyes were still on the television, watching a Mexican cartoon girl. The name of the show was Bora the Explorer.
'So this is Thera's version of Dora,' he thought.
"Swippee no swiping!"
When a fox tried to approach Bora, both Arabella and Iñigo cried out the chant to prevent the fox from stealing Bora's belongings. They clapped their hands when the fox failed to steal from Bora.
He watched the show with them, but he got bored quickly. He decided to take a nap, and he only woke up when the children played with his face, poking him with tiny fingers.
"You guys are naughty." He grinned and tickled them, which made the twins squeal and giggle as they rolled around.
"Lunch is ready, let's eat," Maya announced warmly.
"Papa up! Up!" Arabella raised her hand, asking to be carried with expectant eyes. Iñigo also clung to Karlos's shirt as he wanted to be carried too.
"Alright, let me just..." He scooped up Arabella first, then Iñigo, lifting them carefully. The kids were happy that they were being carried even over a short distance.
Lately, their mother had avoided carrying them. She let them explore the new house by crawling or using the baby walkers. So their father was the only person who pampered them by carrying them. On top of that, he carried them at the same time, which made it better and more enjoyable. It was double the fun.
For the twins, a simple act of carrying was already fulfilling, enough to make them happy. Before Karlos put them in their seats, Maya prepared two baby seats for them to use. These baby seats were meant for children, they were elevated so that the parents didn't have to lower their heads when feeding them, a practical design.
"My neck got tired of looking down too much. It's better this way," Maya said.
For the second time, the babies saw the table from a higher view because of their tall seats. They even clapped their hands.
After praying for grace and thanking the Ocean Goddess, the family had their lunch.
"Here's the first spoon, Arabella. Say ah~" Maya blew the food, making sure it was not hot for her daughter to eat.
At the age of one year and four months, the twins could eat almost everything as long as it was cut into small pieces and not a choking hazard.
Arabella opened her mouth and accepted the food. She munched it.
Maya couldn't help but smile at her daughter. What she fed Arabella was a small piece of meat with bits of rice and shredded broccoli. She was impressed that her daughter ate vegetables!
When Maya was still young, she didn't really like leafy greens or anything defined as vegetables. She then curiously glanced at Karlos, who was feeding the well-behaved Iñigo.
"Babe, when you were young, did you also hate vegetables?" she asked casually.
"Me? No, I basically ate anything," he answered honestly.
"I see, that means our twins take after you when it comes to eating vegetables." She nodded.
"Hm, I guess so."
Karlos didn't explain the reason why he didn't avoid vegetables... His parents never really took care of him and rarely gave him food. Karlos had to eat the food that his older brother and younger sister didn't like, which were vegetable dishes, mostly leftovers. He didn't have a choice but to eat vegetables because he would starve... He was basically eating leftover food for survival.
Even in his first life, Karlos was an orphan who lived his entire life in an orphanage with a lonely upbringing. The orphanage had a lot of children to feed, and Karlos couldn't fill his stomach completely. Any food was a blessing to him.
Karlos looked at Iñigo's innocent eyes. Now that he was a father, Karlos would make sure his children would eat delicious food. He wanted them to enjoy their childhood with no regrets.
He gently kissed Iñigo's forehead.
"Papa loves you." He couldn't help but say that as he wanted the children to understand that he would protect them from everything because he loved them.
"Hm," Iñigo nodded. "Wuv you," he added in a baby voice.
It was true that the couple rarely had the chance to enjoy lunch because they had to feed their gluttonous twins while eating. Still, it was something they had to do simply because they loved their children.
After lunch, Karlos decided to take a nap on the sofa. The twins were also sleeping on his stomach and chest, finding comfort and warmth.
Around 4 p.m., someone called Karlos's name from outside.
"Hey, Karlos! We are going to Antonio's, are you coming with us?"
Immediately, Karlos opened his eyes.
He found Maya's crimson eyes coldly staring at him.
"Babe, someone's calling me outside," he nervously chuckled.
"...Tch, just don't return late. Don't get too drunk." Maya clicked her tongue. She couldn't really stop Karlos from enjoying drinking sessions with the boys.
"I will, we're just going to Antonio's. Old man Ted might also be there. Remember what happened last night? I have to talk to old man Ted to fix the headboard of the bed," he explained quickly.
"And whose fault was it that it was broken, huh?" Maya blushed and glared at Karlos.
It was embarrassing that the couple had already destroyed the headboard in just one night... a passionate accident.
+++
[This novel has 63 chapters on Patreon.]
Karlos opened the door and found the twins watching a children's show. Maya was in the kitchen, cooking their lunch.
"Papa!"
The twins ran excitedly and hugged his legs, which made Karlos smile. He decided to forget about work today and entertain his children instead. Family first. He carried them to the sofa and sat down next to them.
"Did you miss Papa?"
"Yes!" they answered at the same time.
"Babe, what beef dish do you want?" Maya wiped her hands using her apron.
"Beef Caldereta. Also, I have three lobsters and a kilogram of abalones today. Let's cook them tonight." Karlos handed a plastic bag to her.
"Alright, I'll put them in the refrigerator. Your clothes are already prepared in the room. Change into them, then look after the children while I'm cooking," she instructed.
Karlos stood up and listened to his wife's command obediently. He went to the bedroom and changed clothes, then returned to the living room. There was a pitcher of cold water on the coffee table for him. He drank two glasses of water and felt refreshed.
He then sat on the sofa, looking at the children. Arabella and Iñigo's eyes were still on the television, watching a Mexican cartoon girl. The name of the show was Bora the Explorer.
'So this is Thera's version of Dora,' he thought.
"Swippee no swiping!"
When a fox tried to approach Bora, both Arabella and Iñigo cried out the chant to prevent the fox from stealing Bora's belongings. They clapped their hands when the fox failed to steal from Bora.
He watched the show with them, but he got bored quickly. He decided to take a nap, and he only woke up when the children played with his face, poking him with tiny fingers.
"You guys are naughty." He grinned and tickled them, which made the twins squeal and giggle as they rolled around.
"Lunch is ready, let's eat," Maya announced warmly.
"Papa up! Up!" Arabella raised her hand, asking to be carried with expectant eyes. Iñigo also clung to Karlos's shirt as he wanted to be carried too.
"Alright, let me just..." He scooped up Arabella first, then Iñigo, lifting them carefully. The kids were happy that they were being carried even over a short distance.
Lately, their mother had avoided carrying them. She let them explore the new house by crawling or using the baby walkers. So their father was the only person who pampered them by carrying them. On top of that, he carried them at the same time, which made it better and more enjoyable. It was double the fun.
For the twins, a simple act of carrying was already fulfilling, enough to make them happy. Before Karlos put them in their seats, Maya prepared two baby seats for them to use. These baby seats were meant for children, they were elevated so that the parents didn't have to lower their heads when feeding them, a practical design.
"My neck got tired of looking down too much. It's better this way," Maya said.
For the second time, the babies saw the table from a higher view because of their tall seats. They even clapped their hands.
After praying for grace and thanking the Ocean Goddess, the family had their lunch.
"Here's the first spoon, Arabella. Say ah~" Maya blew the food, making sure it was not hot for her daughter to eat.
At the age of one year and four months, the twins could eat almost everything as long as it was cut into small pieces and not a choking hazard.
Arabella opened her mouth and accepted the food. She munched it.
Maya couldn't help but smile at her daughter. What she fed Arabella was a small piece of meat with bits of rice and shredded broccoli. She was impressed that her daughter ate vegetables!
When Maya was still young, she didn't really like leafy greens or anything defined as vegetables. She then curiously glanced at Karlos, who was feeding the well-behaved Iñigo.
"Babe, when you were young, did you also hate vegetables?" she asked casually.
"Me? No, I basically ate anything," he answered honestly.
"I see, that means our twins take after you when it comes to eating vegetables." She nodded.
"Hm, I guess so."
Karlos didn't explain the reason why he didn't avoid vegetables... His parents never really took care of him and rarely gave him food. Karlos had to eat the food that his older brother and younger sister didn't like, which were vegetable dishes, mostly leftovers. He didn't have a choice but to eat vegetables because he would starve... He was basically eating leftover food for survival.
Even in his first life, Karlos was an orphan who lived his entire life in an orphanage with a lonely upbringing. The orphanage had a lot of children to feed, and Karlos couldn't fill his stomach completely. Any food was a blessing to him.
Karlos looked at Iñigo's innocent eyes. Now that he was a father, Karlos would make sure his children would eat delicious food. He wanted them to enjoy their childhood with no regrets.
He gently kissed Iñigo's forehead.
"Papa loves you." He couldn't help but say that as he wanted the children to understand that he would protect them from everything because he loved them.
"Hm," Iñigo nodded. "Wuv you," he added in a baby voice.
It was true that the couple rarely had the chance to enjoy lunch because they had to feed their gluttonous twins while eating. Still, it was something they had to do simply because they loved their children.
After lunch, Karlos decided to take a nap on the sofa. The twins were also sleeping on his stomach and chest, finding comfort and warmth.
Around 4 p.m., someone called Karlos's name from outside.
"Hey, Karlos! We are going to Antonio's, are you coming with us?"
Immediately, Karlos opened his eyes.
He found Maya's crimson eyes coldly staring at him.
"Babe, someone's calling me outside," he nervously chuckled.
"...Tch, just don't return late. Don't get too drunk." Maya clicked her tongue. She couldn't really stop Karlos from enjoying drinking sessions with the boys.
"I will, we're just going to Antonio's. Old man Ted might also be there. Remember what happened last night? I have to talk to old man Ted to fix the headboard of the bed," he explained quickly.
"And whose fault was it that it was broken, huh?" Maya blushed and glared at Karlos.
It was embarrassing that the couple had already destroyed the headboard in just one night... a passionate accident.
+++
[This novel has 63 chapters on Patreon.]
Chapter 141
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 141
After being reminded by Maya to take care of himself and not overdrink, Karlos left the house, closing the gate softly.
He found Andres and Brandon waiting for him, standing by the road.
"Where's Jerry?"
"He said he won't come. There was a ruckus in their house, although I don't know the specifics," Brandon answered, scratching his head. He was the closest one to Jerry's house.
"Are Jerry and his family alright?" Karlos was concerned.
"It's nothing big, I think. Jerry didn't explain it, so I went to Andres's first before going to your house."
"Haha, I knew you would come!" Andres laughed, patting Karlos's shoulder. The three men went to Antonio's house, and it seemed that the party was already going on.
Antonio rented a karaoke machine for guests who wanted to sing. There were many delicacies on the table. Naturally, there were also bottles of beer in a huge styrofoam box with ice floating in it, cold enough to satisfy the guests.
"Karlos, Andres, Brandon, you guys showed up! Come, come, let's eat first." Antonio smiled at them. His grin was wide, and he was a little wobbly and tipsy. He invited them to the party.
Many people showed up, even wives and young kids. The food was free, and everyone wanted to take advantage of the situation. The dishes were a mix of meat and fish, making the guests happy. Even Domingo's mother was there, packing food into her plastic bags.
The three men ate, and next to each of them was a bottle of beer. They listened to the loud karaoke music. Unfortunately, once in a while, someone offbeat would sing, making the performance horrifying and causing the crowd to laugh and boo the singer.
"Hey, Karlos, you and Brandon are still working together, right?" Antonio approached them, slightly tipsy. His face was red from alcohol and happiness. One of his dreams was to be a boat captain, and now he had reached that point in his life, a very proud moment. He now owned a commercial trawler boat.
"Yeah, Brandon and I are partners," Karlos answered and chugged his beer, letting out a sigh.
"Well, I thought your partnership was not permanent. I was thinking of hiring Brandon for my team. You know, I need to build a new team for my boat."
"What about your three workers?"
"They are included, of course. But I need more, at least five more people to make a crew. Besides, my second son is interested in fishing, so I also have to look for another team for him. Brandon is a good guy, and I can entrust him to take care of my son. But oh well, it seems like you guys are doing well." Antonio laughed and scratched his neck.
Unlike the others, Antonio knew that Brandon was a nice guy. He saw him growing up. Aside from having crossed eyes, Brandon was a kindhearted person.
"Not a chance." Karlos shook his head. Brandon was a worthy partner.
"Haha, small matter, don't take it seriously. Although I hope that whenever you see my son at sea or at the fish port, please look after him and take care of him."
"Your son is not that young. I'm sure he will be fine and capable."
"Indeed, indeed."
For a father, Antonio wanted his children to grow up healthy and become good people. He also wanted them to stand on their own and become adults.
Antonio thought of inviting his second son to sail with him, but that kid didn't like being bossed around. So they compromised, and Antonio gave the bangka to him instead.
Antonio had four children. The eldest son and the only daughter had already finished college. The daughter was working in the city, while the first son was working in Maynila.
His second son didn't go to college, while his third son, the youngest, was still in high school.
After that short conversation with Antonio, the three men continued drinking. Their laughter grew louder as more alcohol filled their system.
As expected, old man Ted showed up. The carpenter found a seat and opened a bottle using his teeth with ease.
"Old man Ted, mind taking a few minutes of your time?"
"Karlos, are you going to ask about the two beds, perhaps? They are going to be finished tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to deliver them to you."
"About that,"
Karlos explained that the headboard of the bed broke because he slipped while walking to the bed. That was the best excuse he could think of.
"You broke it? For that headboard to break, it must have been a strong impact. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Nothing bad happened."
Strong impact? Nah, it was more than one. The bed was basically rocking like it was under a strong earthquake, like a 9.8 magnitude or something. The memory made Karlos cough lightly.
"I'll fix it tomorrow. Just take it outside the house so that I have a big space to work with. No need to pay me. What you paid me last time is already enough." Being an old man, Ted was grateful that someone still needed his skills.
"But I insist," Karlos answered, sounding firm.
"Alright, just give me a portion of your catch tomorrow. That will do."
Old man Ted had extra material for the headboard, and he could fix it quickly.
"Thanks, old man Ted."
"It's nothing. Now let me enjoy my drink. I rarely have the time to enjoy free alcohol."
Karlos laughed. Old man Ted was right. Free drinks were delicious and tasted better.
He returned to his friends and continued drinking. Just when they thought the party was over, another batch of beer came, and the party went on until midnight.
But of course, Karlos kept his promise. He returned home before 10 p.m.
"Wife~ wife~"
Karlos kept calling for Maya. His steps were shaky but eager. The woman sighed and opened the door for him.
"The children are already sleeping in their crib. You should be quiet," Maya said in a softer tone.
"Hm," Karlos drunkenly nodded, then hugged Maya, wrapping his arms around her.
"You smell so good."
"You smell so bad," Maya replied. Her nose wrinkled. The alcohol was lingering on Karlos, making her frown.
"I prepared something for you to eat and drink. Let's go inside." Maya helped Karlos to the dining table.
+++
[Thank you for reading this novel, you can read more on my Patreon.]
After being reminded by Maya to take care of himself and not overdrink, Karlos left the house, closing the gate softly.
He found Andres and Brandon waiting for him, standing by the road.
"Where's Jerry?"
"He said he won't come. There was a ruckus in their house, although I don't know the specifics," Brandon answered, scratching his head. He was the closest one to Jerry's house.
"Are Jerry and his family alright?" Karlos was concerned.
"It's nothing big, I think. Jerry didn't explain it, so I went to Andres's first before going to your house."
"Haha, I knew you would come!" Andres laughed, patting Karlos's shoulder. The three men went to Antonio's house, and it seemed that the party was already going on.
Antonio rented a karaoke machine for guests who wanted to sing. There were many delicacies on the table. Naturally, there were also bottles of beer in a huge styrofoam box with ice floating in it, cold enough to satisfy the guests.
"Karlos, Andres, Brandon, you guys showed up! Come, come, let's eat first." Antonio smiled at them. His grin was wide, and he was a little wobbly and tipsy. He invited them to the party.
Many people showed up, even wives and young kids. The food was free, and everyone wanted to take advantage of the situation. The dishes were a mix of meat and fish, making the guests happy. Even Domingo's mother was there, packing food into her plastic bags.
The three men ate, and next to each of them was a bottle of beer. They listened to the loud karaoke music. Unfortunately, once in a while, someone offbeat would sing, making the performance horrifying and causing the crowd to laugh and boo the singer.
"Hey, Karlos, you and Brandon are still working together, right?" Antonio approached them, slightly tipsy. His face was red from alcohol and happiness. One of his dreams was to be a boat captain, and now he had reached that point in his life, a very proud moment. He now owned a commercial trawler boat.
"Yeah, Brandon and I are partners," Karlos answered and chugged his beer, letting out a sigh.
"Well, I thought your partnership was not permanent. I was thinking of hiring Brandon for my team. You know, I need to build a new team for my boat."
"What about your three workers?"
"They are included, of course. But I need more, at least five more people to make a crew. Besides, my second son is interested in fishing, so I also have to look for another team for him. Brandon is a good guy, and I can entrust him to take care of my son. But oh well, it seems like you guys are doing well." Antonio laughed and scratched his neck.
Unlike the others, Antonio knew that Brandon was a nice guy. He saw him growing up. Aside from having crossed eyes, Brandon was a kindhearted person.
"Not a chance." Karlos shook his head. Brandon was a worthy partner.
"Haha, small matter, don't take it seriously. Although I hope that whenever you see my son at sea or at the fish port, please look after him and take care of him."
"Your son is not that young. I'm sure he will be fine and capable."
"Indeed, indeed."
For a father, Antonio wanted his children to grow up healthy and become good people. He also wanted them to stand on their own and become adults.
Antonio thought of inviting his second son to sail with him, but that kid didn't like being bossed around. So they compromised, and Antonio gave the bangka to him instead.
Antonio had four children. The eldest son and the only daughter had already finished college. The daughter was working in the city, while the first son was working in Maynila.
His second son didn't go to college, while his third son, the youngest, was still in high school.
After that short conversation with Antonio, the three men continued drinking. Their laughter grew louder as more alcohol filled their system.
As expected, old man Ted showed up. The carpenter found a seat and opened a bottle using his teeth with ease.
"Old man Ted, mind taking a few minutes of your time?"
"Karlos, are you going to ask about the two beds, perhaps? They are going to be finished tomorrow afternoon. I'm going to deliver them to you."
"About that,"
Karlos explained that the headboard of the bed broke because he slipped while walking to the bed. That was the best excuse he could think of.
"You broke it? For that headboard to break, it must have been a strong impact. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Nothing bad happened."
Strong impact? Nah, it was more than one. The bed was basically rocking like it was under a strong earthquake, like a 9.8 magnitude or something. The memory made Karlos cough lightly.
"I'll fix it tomorrow. Just take it outside the house so that I have a big space to work with. No need to pay me. What you paid me last time is already enough." Being an old man, Ted was grateful that someone still needed his skills.
"But I insist," Karlos answered, sounding firm.
"Alright, just give me a portion of your catch tomorrow. That will do."
Old man Ted had extra material for the headboard, and he could fix it quickly.
"Thanks, old man Ted."
"It's nothing. Now let me enjoy my drink. I rarely have the time to enjoy free alcohol."
Karlos laughed. Old man Ted was right. Free drinks were delicious and tasted better.
He returned to his friends and continued drinking. Just when they thought the party was over, another batch of beer came, and the party went on until midnight.
But of course, Karlos kept his promise. He returned home before 10 p.m.
"Wife~ wife~"
Karlos kept calling for Maya. His steps were shaky but eager. The woman sighed and opened the door for him.
"The children are already sleeping in their crib. You should be quiet," Maya said in a softer tone.
"Hm," Karlos drunkenly nodded, then hugged Maya, wrapping his arms around her.
"You smell so good."
"You smell so bad," Maya replied. Her nose wrinkled. The alcohol was lingering on Karlos, making her frown.
"I prepared something for you to eat and drink. Let's go inside." Maya helped Karlos to the dining table.
+++
[Thank you for reading this novel, you can read more on my Patreon.]
Chapter 142
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 142
"Hm, I really love you so much." Karlos kissed her cheek, pressing his lips with drunken sincerity, and Maya accepted it despite smelling the alcohol. He sat at the table and ate the abalones and lobsters that Maya cooked with butter, corn, and chorizo. His eyes lit up with every bite.
"Babe, your dish is delicious, but you're more delicious." Karlos was still drunk, smiling foolishly.
"..."
Maya was speechless and pouted, her cheeks blushing. Karlos was really clingy whenever he was drunk. She liked it, but she also didn't like it. It was complicated.
"Just eat your food." She nudged the plate closer, hiding her fluster.
"Hm," Karlos ate with gusto until he finished. He burped, and his mind improved, enough for him to think straight.
"Let's go to sleep." Maya led him to the bedroom. Karlos had to wake up early tomorrow, so staying up late at night was detrimental, his body needed rest.
"Wife, how about one round?" Now that Karlos had regained his sanity, he kissed Maya's neck, almost licking it. Maya felt her body melting, but she glared at Karlos, trying to remain firm.
"Don't you remember what date it is? No funny business for a week," she said seriously.
"Ah, is that so? That means only the mouth and ass are allowed?" he whispered boldly.
Maya blushed hard and pinched him.
"What are you saying!? You brute! A hooligan!" Her voice cracked in embarrassment.
"Alright, I'm sorry. My fault. Let's go to the room."
When they went inside, the couple first looked at the big crib where Iñigo and Arabella were sleeping peacefully together. They were so cute that their parents unconsciously smiled just by looking at them.
Maya carefully tucked them in, adjusting their blankets and making sure they were sleeping comfortably.
Then, the night ended with Karlos and Maya trying to break the already broken headboard. The bed creaked as their whispered laughter mixed with muffled moans.
.........
......
...
The next day, Karlos and Brandon ended their fishing job around 10 a.m. and earned 48,000 pesos. The two men worked together to carry their equipment.
Just like always, the beach had young kids gambling under the coconut trees. They were waiting for boats to arrive so they could carry the boats onto the beach and then ask for money.
Anyway, Karlos paid them 20 pesos to carry his bangka onto the beach, far from the waves.
Brandon and Karlos then carried the engine together and reached Karlos's house.
Maya opened the door when she heard someone open the gate. She smiled when she saw Karlos.
The two men put the engine under a shed and covered it with a tarpaulin.
"I baked egg pies. Brandon, take three slices for you and your parents," Maya said and went back inside.
"No, that would be..." Before Brandon could refuse, Maya had already gone inside. Karlos chuckled.
"Just take it. My wife is interested in baking lately."
Maya returned outside and gave Brandon a lunch box with three slices of egg pie inside.
"See you tomorrow," Brandon bid farewell, holding the lunch box carefully.
He smiled slightly and greeted the neighbors he passed by. However, when he stepped into their house, he heard his older brother's voice and his wife's.
"Oh, Brandon, you're back. What's that? Egg pie! You bought something for us? Haha, thank you so much!" His older brother, Gary, laughed.
"This is for Mama, Papa, and me," Brandon frowned.
"Is that so? Ma, Pa, can my wife and I get your portion? We rarely have a chance to eat egg pie."
"Go on, eat them." Gomez puffed his cigarette. Carmine also nodded.
"..." Brandon gritted his teeth and gave them the slices reluctantly. The husband and wife held the egg pie in their hands and ate it with satisfaction.
"This is delicious! Brandon, next time bring more," Gary said without shame.
"..."
Brandon didn't answer. After eating his slice, he washed the lunch box as he had to bring it back tomorrow. While washing, he heard their conversation.
"Ma, my son is now a 4th grader, and he needs money to buy books and other school supplies."
"It's just April. They are still on vacation. You guys can save money," Carmine said. She knew that school would start in June.
"We are just planning ahead so that your grandson doesn't have to think about school supplies anymore," Gary's wife replied.
"How much is it?" Gomez could see through their intention, so he went straight to the point.
"5,000 pesos."
"5,000 pesos!? What kind of books are you going to buy? Are they made of gold!?" Carmine was shocked.
A notebook only cost 5 pesos. A pen only cost 3 to 5 pesos, depending on the brand. As for textbooks, the price varied, but the average price was 100 pesos. They were very affordable.
Even Brandon frowned as he listened.
"Well, we are also thinking of buying a brand new bag for him," Gary quickly added.
"Do you really have to buy one? We have a backpack here. Your son can use it," Carmine frowned.
"Ma, you have to understand, kids prefer new things. You don't want your grandson to cry, right?"
"And where is he anyway? Why didn't you bring him? I want to talk to my grandson myself," Gomez slightly raised his voice.
"He wants to enjoy his vacation, and he went out to play with his friends," Gary avoided eye contact.
'Of course you didn't bring your son, he's too young to lie. 5,000 pesos my ass. Even 700 pesos is already enough to buy school supplies,' Brandon thought.
On top of that, he knew his nephew, and that boy didn't like going to school. He often skipped classes.
"We don't have 5,000 pesos. Your mother and I are not working anymore," Gomez shook his head.
Gary then glanced at Brandon, but Brandon kept washing the dishes, pretending to be busy.
"... Well then, how much can you provide for your grandson's education?"
An hour later, Brandon sighed as he stared at his parents.
"So you gave him 1,000 pesos just like that?"
"That's your brother you're talking about," Carmine spoke softly.
"I know, that's why I'm asking you the question."
"It's for the child's education," Gomez answered.
"Alright, I'm not going to say anything. I gave you the money, and it depends on you how you want to spend it. I just hope my sister will not show up later with the same excuse." Brandon stood up and went to his room.
+++
[Thank you for reading this novel.]
"Hm, I really love you so much." Karlos kissed her cheek, pressing his lips with drunken sincerity, and Maya accepted it despite smelling the alcohol. He sat at the table and ate the abalones and lobsters that Maya cooked with butter, corn, and chorizo. His eyes lit up with every bite.
"Babe, your dish is delicious, but you're more delicious." Karlos was still drunk, smiling foolishly.
"..."
Maya was speechless and pouted, her cheeks blushing. Karlos was really clingy whenever he was drunk. She liked it, but she also didn't like it. It was complicated.
"Just eat your food." She nudged the plate closer, hiding her fluster.
"Hm," Karlos ate with gusto until he finished. He burped, and his mind improved, enough for him to think straight.
"Let's go to sleep." Maya led him to the bedroom. Karlos had to wake up early tomorrow, so staying up late at night was detrimental, his body needed rest.
"Wife, how about one round?" Now that Karlos had regained his sanity, he kissed Maya's neck, almost licking it. Maya felt her body melting, but she glared at Karlos, trying to remain firm.
"Don't you remember what date it is? No funny business for a week," she said seriously.
"Ah, is that so? That means only the mouth and ass are allowed?" he whispered boldly.
Maya blushed hard and pinched him.
"What are you saying!? You brute! A hooligan!" Her voice cracked in embarrassment.
"Alright, I'm sorry. My fault. Let's go to the room."
When they went inside, the couple first looked at the big crib where Iñigo and Arabella were sleeping peacefully together. They were so cute that their parents unconsciously smiled just by looking at them.
Maya carefully tucked them in, adjusting their blankets and making sure they were sleeping comfortably.
Then, the night ended with Karlos and Maya trying to break the already broken headboard. The bed creaked as their whispered laughter mixed with muffled moans.
.........
......
...
The next day, Karlos and Brandon ended their fishing job around 10 a.m. and earned 48,000 pesos. The two men worked together to carry their equipment.
Just like always, the beach had young kids gambling under the coconut trees. They were waiting for boats to arrive so they could carry the boats onto the beach and then ask for money.
Anyway, Karlos paid them 20 pesos to carry his bangka onto the beach, far from the waves.
Brandon and Karlos then carried the engine together and reached Karlos's house.
Maya opened the door when she heard someone open the gate. She smiled when she saw Karlos.
The two men put the engine under a shed and covered it with a tarpaulin.
"I baked egg pies. Brandon, take three slices for you and your parents," Maya said and went back inside.
"No, that would be..." Before Brandon could refuse, Maya had already gone inside. Karlos chuckled.
"Just take it. My wife is interested in baking lately."
Maya returned outside and gave Brandon a lunch box with three slices of egg pie inside.
"See you tomorrow," Brandon bid farewell, holding the lunch box carefully.
He smiled slightly and greeted the neighbors he passed by. However, when he stepped into their house, he heard his older brother's voice and his wife's.
"Oh, Brandon, you're back. What's that? Egg pie! You bought something for us? Haha, thank you so much!" His older brother, Gary, laughed.
"This is for Mama, Papa, and me," Brandon frowned.
"Is that so? Ma, Pa, can my wife and I get your portion? We rarely have a chance to eat egg pie."
"Go on, eat them." Gomez puffed his cigarette. Carmine also nodded.
"..." Brandon gritted his teeth and gave them the slices reluctantly. The husband and wife held the egg pie in their hands and ate it with satisfaction.
"This is delicious! Brandon, next time bring more," Gary said without shame.
"..."
Brandon didn't answer. After eating his slice, he washed the lunch box as he had to bring it back tomorrow. While washing, he heard their conversation.
"Ma, my son is now a 4th grader, and he needs money to buy books and other school supplies."
"It's just April. They are still on vacation. You guys can save money," Carmine said. She knew that school would start in June.
"We are just planning ahead so that your grandson doesn't have to think about school supplies anymore," Gary's wife replied.
"How much is it?" Gomez could see through their intention, so he went straight to the point.
"5,000 pesos."
"5,000 pesos!? What kind of books are you going to buy? Are they made of gold!?" Carmine was shocked.
A notebook only cost 5 pesos. A pen only cost 3 to 5 pesos, depending on the brand. As for textbooks, the price varied, but the average price was 100 pesos. They were very affordable.
Even Brandon frowned as he listened.
"Well, we are also thinking of buying a brand new bag for him," Gary quickly added.
"Do you really have to buy one? We have a backpack here. Your son can use it," Carmine frowned.
"Ma, you have to understand, kids prefer new things. You don't want your grandson to cry, right?"
"And where is he anyway? Why didn't you bring him? I want to talk to my grandson myself," Gomez slightly raised his voice.
"He wants to enjoy his vacation, and he went out to play with his friends," Gary avoided eye contact.
'Of course you didn't bring your son, he's too young to lie. 5,000 pesos my ass. Even 700 pesos is already enough to buy school supplies,' Brandon thought.
On top of that, he knew his nephew, and that boy didn't like going to school. He often skipped classes.
"We don't have 5,000 pesos. Your mother and I are not working anymore," Gomez shook his head.
Gary then glanced at Brandon, but Brandon kept washing the dishes, pretending to be busy.
"... Well then, how much can you provide for your grandson's education?"
An hour later, Brandon sighed as he stared at his parents.
"So you gave him 1,000 pesos just like that?"
"That's your brother you're talking about," Carmine spoke softly.
"I know, that's why I'm asking you the question."
"It's for the child's education," Gomez answered.
"Alright, I'm not going to say anything. I gave you the money, and it depends on you how you want to spend it. I just hope my sister will not show up later with the same excuse." Brandon stood up and went to his room.
+++
[Thank you for reading this novel.]
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Thank you
Chapter 143
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 143
After lunch, Karlos carried the bed frame out of the house and put it under the shed. Maya slightly blushed as she looked at the broken headboard, evidence of their crime... She had no idea how she could endure all of the attacks, yet the headboard couldn't do it... Perhaps she had gained resistance? Considering that she had been with Karlos for three years, perhaps.
Around 2 to 3 pm, Karlos's routine was to take a nap. He had little sleep last night, the hangover was still haunting him, and the throbbing in his head was quite a hassle. The twins also loved taking naps with Karlos, their favorite sleeping spot was his chest and stomach.
As for Maya, she decided to visit Reina's house. She brought four slices of freshly baked egg pie. She wanted to hear their opinions on her dessert, should she add more sugar or not?
Karlos loved her food and so did the twins. But she wanted to hear praise from others, something unbiased. She knew that Karlos was too much in love, and everything she cooked was delicious to him. His compliments always positive. As for the twins, anything sweet was delicious to them, which made them unreliable critics. Their criticism was not enough to determine if her egg pie was good or not.
When she reached Reina's house, Reina's two children opened the door for her and welcomed her warmly. Jenny and Marlon greeted Maya with smiles, especially when they saw that she brought a lunchbox.
"Auntie!"
"Hm." She patted their heads gently. It was the beginning of summer vacation, so Jenny and Marlon were in the house.
"Is your mother here?"
"She's in the kitchen," Marlon said, pointing with excitement, already sniffing the dessert.
"What about your father?"
"Papa is in the fish port," Jenny replied.
Maya's cousin, Andres, was still carrying baskets and pushing carts in the fish port at this hour. It was an exhausting and physically demanding job.
Reina heard that there was a guest, so she left the kitchen.
"Maya, you're here. Let's talk." She invited Maya to the kitchen.
"I brought egg pie."
The children followed Maya, drooling at the dessert she brought, their eyes locked onto the lunchbox. For kids like them, egg pie was almost impossible to eat and was considered a rare treat.
In this era, people who knew how to bake were recognized as professionals. There was no such thing as the internet where people could learn online.
So it was natural that Jenny and Marlon were salivating over the egg pie. Even the bakery in their neighborhood couldn't make egg pies.
"Here, each one of you will have one slice. The remaining are for your mother and father." Maya smiled at Jenny and Marlon. The kids jumped happily and thanked her.
They left the two mothers and let them gossip... Yes, Maya had another reason why she visited Reina. She wanted to hear some juicy gossip. She rarely had moments to escape from the clutches of her toddlers.
Reina was making chicken tocino, and Maya helped her. They cut the chicken breasts into thin slices while Reina told Maya about the recent things that happened on the beachside while Maya was gone for half a year.
"You know what happened to Miguel, right?"
Maya nodded. "When I heard that Miguel was the thief who stole crabs, I was shocked."
"Me too. I didn't expect Miguel to do that. But that's not the biggest story." Reina leaned closer. "Miguel has a girlfriend, and she's the reason Miguel left Gloria. His girlfriend was pregnant, but apparently, he was not the father!"
"Really!? What a story!" Maya was excited, her eyes sparkling. She loved stories like these. Even when she was in college, she loved it when her friends gossiped about other people.
"Aside from Miguel, I also heard some rumors about Jerry's younger brother." Reina mixed the ingredients for the tocino such as lemon, sugar, soy sauce, pepper, and red food coloring.
"You're talking about Bastos?"
"That's right." Reina leaned in and whispered to Maya, glancing left and right. "People saw Bastos visiting the red light district."
Una Town had a fish port and a bay harbor. Thousands of boats from different regions visited the town for many reasons. These fishermen and sailors were mostly men, and they had urges they needed to satisfy.
The red light district was a place where non-locals visited for obvious reasons, such as liquor and companionship.
Of course, even locals visited the red light district. But the citizens of Una Town had no respect for the women who partook in the district's well-known profession. They insulted them openly.
"Huh!? That happened? How old is Bastos?" Maya asked, her mouth falling open in disbelief.
"He turned 18 in January."
"He's still young. Is he really that desperate?"
To make it clear, Maya was 23 years old and still young, but the way she spoke made it look like she was far older than Bastos.
Being a mother made her mature.
"I don't know," Reina shrugged. Even though Una Town had a red light district, people condemned it, so Bastos might also be reprimanded by his parents and older siblings if they knew what he did.
Maya looked at the clock and realized that her husband and two toddlers might be awake now, so she bid farewell, washing her hands and grabbing the empty lunchbox.
"Auntie, the egg pie is delicious. Thank you so much."
"Does it need more sugar or not?" she asked curiously.
"It tastes amazing, I don't think it needs more or less sugar," Jenny answered. "Auntie, if you have more desserts like that, please give us." She licked her lips, her eyes hopeful.
"What are you talking about!? Jenny, that's not how you should talk to your auntie." Reina glared at Jenny, and the girl avoided her gaze.
"It's fine. I'm trying to hone my baking skills and pastry-making. If I bake something delicious, I'll invite you." Maya chuckled, waving off the scolding.
"Yay!"
"Thank you, Maya."
Maya waved her hand and left Reina's house. She was carrying the now-empty lunchbox.
+++
[Author's Note:]
You can read more on my Patreon with:
83 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
65 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii
After lunch, Karlos carried the bed frame out of the house and put it under the shed. Maya slightly blushed as she looked at the broken headboard, evidence of their crime... She had no idea how she could endure all of the attacks, yet the headboard couldn't do it... Perhaps she had gained resistance? Considering that she had been with Karlos for three years, perhaps.
Around 2 to 3 pm, Karlos's routine was to take a nap. He had little sleep last night, the hangover was still haunting him, and the throbbing in his head was quite a hassle. The twins also loved taking naps with Karlos, their favorite sleeping spot was his chest and stomach.
As for Maya, she decided to visit Reina's house. She brought four slices of freshly baked egg pie. She wanted to hear their opinions on her dessert, should she add more sugar or not?
Karlos loved her food and so did the twins. But she wanted to hear praise from others, something unbiased. She knew that Karlos was too much in love, and everything she cooked was delicious to him. His compliments always positive. As for the twins, anything sweet was delicious to them, which made them unreliable critics. Their criticism was not enough to determine if her egg pie was good or not.
When she reached Reina's house, Reina's two children opened the door for her and welcomed her warmly. Jenny and Marlon greeted Maya with smiles, especially when they saw that she brought a lunchbox.
"Auntie!"
"Hm." She patted their heads gently. It was the beginning of summer vacation, so Jenny and Marlon were in the house.
"Is your mother here?"
"She's in the kitchen," Marlon said, pointing with excitement, already sniffing the dessert.
"What about your father?"
"Papa is in the fish port," Jenny replied.
Maya's cousin, Andres, was still carrying baskets and pushing carts in the fish port at this hour. It was an exhausting and physically demanding job.
Reina heard that there was a guest, so she left the kitchen.
"Maya, you're here. Let's talk." She invited Maya to the kitchen.
"I brought egg pie."
The children followed Maya, drooling at the dessert she brought, their eyes locked onto the lunchbox. For kids like them, egg pie was almost impossible to eat and was considered a rare treat.
In this era, people who knew how to bake were recognized as professionals. There was no such thing as the internet where people could learn online.
So it was natural that Jenny and Marlon were salivating over the egg pie. Even the bakery in their neighborhood couldn't make egg pies.
"Here, each one of you will have one slice. The remaining are for your mother and father." Maya smiled at Jenny and Marlon. The kids jumped happily and thanked her.
They left the two mothers and let them gossip... Yes, Maya had another reason why she visited Reina. She wanted to hear some juicy gossip. She rarely had moments to escape from the clutches of her toddlers.
Reina was making chicken tocino, and Maya helped her. They cut the chicken breasts into thin slices while Reina told Maya about the recent things that happened on the beachside while Maya was gone for half a year.
"You know what happened to Miguel, right?"
Maya nodded. "When I heard that Miguel was the thief who stole crabs, I was shocked."
"Me too. I didn't expect Miguel to do that. But that's not the biggest story." Reina leaned closer. "Miguel has a girlfriend, and she's the reason Miguel left Gloria. His girlfriend was pregnant, but apparently, he was not the father!"
"Really!? What a story!" Maya was excited, her eyes sparkling. She loved stories like these. Even when she was in college, she loved it when her friends gossiped about other people.
"Aside from Miguel, I also heard some rumors about Jerry's younger brother." Reina mixed the ingredients for the tocino such as lemon, sugar, soy sauce, pepper, and red food coloring.
"You're talking about Bastos?"
"That's right." Reina leaned in and whispered to Maya, glancing left and right. "People saw Bastos visiting the red light district."
Una Town had a fish port and a bay harbor. Thousands of boats from different regions visited the town for many reasons. These fishermen and sailors were mostly men, and they had urges they needed to satisfy.
The red light district was a place where non-locals visited for obvious reasons, such as liquor and companionship.
Of course, even locals visited the red light district. But the citizens of Una Town had no respect for the women who partook in the district's well-known profession. They insulted them openly.
"Huh!? That happened? How old is Bastos?" Maya asked, her mouth falling open in disbelief.
"He turned 18 in January."
"He's still young. Is he really that desperate?"
To make it clear, Maya was 23 years old and still young, but the way she spoke made it look like she was far older than Bastos.
Being a mother made her mature.
"I don't know," Reina shrugged. Even though Una Town had a red light district, people condemned it, so Bastos might also be reprimanded by his parents and older siblings if they knew what he did.
Maya looked at the clock and realized that her husband and two toddlers might be awake now, so she bid farewell, washing her hands and grabbing the empty lunchbox.
"Auntie, the egg pie is delicious. Thank you so much."
"Does it need more sugar or not?" she asked curiously.
"It tastes amazing, I don't think it needs more or less sugar," Jenny answered. "Auntie, if you have more desserts like that, please give us." She licked her lips, her eyes hopeful.
"What are you talking about!? Jenny, that's not how you should talk to your auntie." Reina glared at Jenny, and the girl avoided her gaze.
"It's fine. I'm trying to hone my baking skills and pastry-making. If I bake something delicious, I'll invite you." Maya chuckled, waving off the scolding.
"Yay!"
"Thank you, Maya."
Maya waved her hand and left Reina's house. She was carrying the now-empty lunchbox.
+++
[Author's Note:]
You can read more on my Patreon with:
83 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
65 advance chapters of Reincarnated as a Fisherman and Dad
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_makii
Chapter 144
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 144
Sure enough, when she went inside the house, she found Karlos playing with the twins. His arms stretched out as he carried them through the air, making an exaggerated whooshing sound. They were playing Superman, where Karlos carried them as if they were flying.
"Mama!"
The twins got excited when they saw their mother. Her presence alone made them happy, she was the center of their little world. Karlos put them down carefully with a soft grunt, stretching his shoulders afterward. His children were indeed getting bigger and heavier than he expected.
They ran up to Maya and hugged her legs, pressing their cheeks against her jeans as if they were claiming their spots.
"Are Reina and her kids doing well?" Karlos asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Hm, they are doing well. They also liked the egg pie," Maya answered. Although she sensed that Reina had something she wanted to say, she decided not to talk about it.
"Ma, eww pie!" Arabella pointed at the tall refrigerator, eyes sparkling with expectation. For her, that tall box was a treasure chest full of food. Unfortunately, her little hands couldn't open it, or else she would have every food in the world, or so she thought.
"Eww pie!" Iñigo repeated, copying his sister. He knew that the egg pie was not in the refrigerator but in the oven, which was turned off.
Maya chuckled and entertained them, unable to refuse their cuteness. She lowered herself to their height as she brushed their hair. A single slice of egg pie was enough to satisfy the twins.
A few minutes later, someone called out from the gate and Karlos looked out the window. He confirmed that it was Old Man Ted. The old man and his youngest son, Bong, were carrying a bedframe.
Karlos greeted them and opened the gate, pushing it wide with a friendly nod. They put the bedframe in front of the house.
"We will carry the second bedframe," Old Man Ted said and left the house. Karlos inspected Old Man Ted's carpentry and nodded. It was good, smooth, and sturdy. A few minutes later, they brought another bedframe.
"Let's take these inside," Old Man Ted said to his son.
Karlos led them to the two rooms and placed the bedframes. The twins curiously stared at the old man and his son, peeking from behind Maya. Arabella waved her hand while Iñigo frowned at them, both had different expressions.
"Old Man Ted, I baked an egg pie. Please bring it back before you leave. Just return the lunchbox later," Maya said to them.
"Nah, it's too much. You don't have to. I don't like sweets anyway." Old Man Ted waved his hands and tried to refuse, but Bong accepted the lunchbox, snatching it with eager hands.
"Thank you, Mrs. Alejandro. I will bring the lunchbox later." If Old Man Ted didn't like sweets, then his son loved them. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"Tch, this kid." Old Man Ted clicked his tongue at his son before exiting the house. He went to the shed and looked at the bedframe for the master bedroom, examining the damage closely.
"So the headboard was indeed broken..." The old man didn't expect that the damage would be this bad. He wondered how strong the impact was for the headboard to have almost split in two.
"Bong, bring our spare headboard here," Old Man Ted ordered his son.
While his son was gone, Old Man Ted had a conversation with Karlos.
"How old are you again?"
"I'll be 22 years old next month."
"I see... I can't believe you are already married. You and Bong are the same age." Old Man Ted sighed. The young man in front of him already had a family and a house, yet Bong was still a snotty guy who did nothing but play around.
Both were 21 years old but had different maturity levels. Perhaps it also depended on how a person understood the world, because Karlos had been mature from a young age. He had to, or else he wouldn't adapt to what reality could bring.
In his past life, he once dreamt that his parents would show up one day in his life. But reality was often disappointing.
As for his current life, he once dreamt that his parents would start loving him, but it never happened.
A few minutes later, Bong showed up with the headboard and the empty lunchbox. He gave the lunchbox to Karlos and thanked him, even showing respect.
He subconsciously respected Karlos because the guy had already proved himself. Karlos could stand on his own and live, he deserved respect in Bong's eyes.
Being good at his job, Old Man Ted finished reattaching a new headboard to the bedframe.
"Just be careful next time. This headboard is tougher, but we can't be sure," Old Man Ted said as they carried the bedframe to the master bedroom.
Karlos already paid the old man 4,000 pesos for the three bedframes weeks ago, but he paid another 250 pesos for fixing the headboard. He also gave them a kilogram of abalones. Old Man Ted accepted the pay and thanked the couple.
"... Let's be careful next time." Once Old Man Ted was gone, Maya shyly talked to Karlos about their lovemaking. It would be embarrassing if the bed broke again. A rumor might even circulate that Karlos was a freak in bed... Well, Karlos was indeed a freak in bed.
.........
......
...
A week later, the couple had a housewarming and invited their friends. Karlos actually invited Roman and Larry, but the two were quite busy and unable to attend.
Larry was busy getting revenge on the Patong family. So far, the police found another drug den that the Patong family owned.
Unlike last time, the drug raid was broadcast on the news stations, and there were rumors that the drug den was owned by Governor Lang Patong. The governor obviously denied the allegations, but his name was already tarnished. In the next election, he might have a hard time winning with his reputation damaged.
As for Roman, the wealthy guy was in Maynila and attended many business meetings. His father, Heneral Alejandro, was also talking to Roman about his marriage engagement, pressuring him to start a family. Heneral wanted Roman to expand the business empire through an arranged marriage.
The two wealthy guys couldn't attend, but they delivered gifts for the housewarming, such as a flat-screen TV, electric fans, lamps, and electric kettles. Now the family had two televisions and more appliances. Well, they could put the other appliances in the master bedroom, making it livelier.
Sure enough, when she went inside the house, she found Karlos playing with the twins. His arms stretched out as he carried them through the air, making an exaggerated whooshing sound. They were playing Superman, where Karlos carried them as if they were flying.
"Mama!"
The twins got excited when they saw their mother. Her presence alone made them happy, she was the center of their little world. Karlos put them down carefully with a soft grunt, stretching his shoulders afterward. His children were indeed getting bigger and heavier than he expected.
They ran up to Maya and hugged her legs, pressing their cheeks against her jeans as if they were claiming their spots.
"Are Reina and her kids doing well?" Karlos asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Hm, they are doing well. They also liked the egg pie," Maya answered. Although she sensed that Reina had something she wanted to say, she decided not to talk about it.
"Ma, eww pie!" Arabella pointed at the tall refrigerator, eyes sparkling with expectation. For her, that tall box was a treasure chest full of food. Unfortunately, her little hands couldn't open it, or else she would have every food in the world, or so she thought.
"Eww pie!" Iñigo repeated, copying his sister. He knew that the egg pie was not in the refrigerator but in the oven, which was turned off.
Maya chuckled and entertained them, unable to refuse their cuteness. She lowered herself to their height as she brushed their hair. A single slice of egg pie was enough to satisfy the twins.
A few minutes later, someone called out from the gate and Karlos looked out the window. He confirmed that it was Old Man Ted. The old man and his youngest son, Bong, were carrying a bedframe.
Karlos greeted them and opened the gate, pushing it wide with a friendly nod. They put the bedframe in front of the house.
"We will carry the second bedframe," Old Man Ted said and left the house. Karlos inspected Old Man Ted's carpentry and nodded. It was good, smooth, and sturdy. A few minutes later, they brought another bedframe.
"Let's take these inside," Old Man Ted said to his son.
Karlos led them to the two rooms and placed the bedframes. The twins curiously stared at the old man and his son, peeking from behind Maya. Arabella waved her hand while Iñigo frowned at them, both had different expressions.
"Old Man Ted, I baked an egg pie. Please bring it back before you leave. Just return the lunchbox later," Maya said to them.
"Nah, it's too much. You don't have to. I don't like sweets anyway." Old Man Ted waved his hands and tried to refuse, but Bong accepted the lunchbox, snatching it with eager hands.
"Thank you, Mrs. Alejandro. I will bring the lunchbox later." If Old Man Ted didn't like sweets, then his son loved them. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"Tch, this kid." Old Man Ted clicked his tongue at his son before exiting the house. He went to the shed and looked at the bedframe for the master bedroom, examining the damage closely.
"So the headboard was indeed broken..." The old man didn't expect that the damage would be this bad. He wondered how strong the impact was for the headboard to have almost split in two.
"Bong, bring our spare headboard here," Old Man Ted ordered his son.
While his son was gone, Old Man Ted had a conversation with Karlos.
"How old are you again?"
"I'll be 22 years old next month."
"I see... I can't believe you are already married. You and Bong are the same age." Old Man Ted sighed. The young man in front of him already had a family and a house, yet Bong was still a snotty guy who did nothing but play around.
Both were 21 years old but had different maturity levels. Perhaps it also depended on how a person understood the world, because Karlos had been mature from a young age. He had to, or else he wouldn't adapt to what reality could bring.
In his past life, he once dreamt that his parents would show up one day in his life. But reality was often disappointing.
As for his current life, he once dreamt that his parents would start loving him, but it never happened.
A few minutes later, Bong showed up with the headboard and the empty lunchbox. He gave the lunchbox to Karlos and thanked him, even showing respect.
He subconsciously respected Karlos because the guy had already proved himself. Karlos could stand on his own and live, he deserved respect in Bong's eyes.
Being good at his job, Old Man Ted finished reattaching a new headboard to the bedframe.
"Just be careful next time. This headboard is tougher, but we can't be sure," Old Man Ted said as they carried the bedframe to the master bedroom.
Karlos already paid the old man 4,000 pesos for the three bedframes weeks ago, but he paid another 250 pesos for fixing the headboard. He also gave them a kilogram of abalones. Old Man Ted accepted the pay and thanked the couple.
"... Let's be careful next time." Once Old Man Ted was gone, Maya shyly talked to Karlos about their lovemaking. It would be embarrassing if the bed broke again. A rumor might even circulate that Karlos was a freak in bed... Well, Karlos was indeed a freak in bed.
.........
......
...
A week later, the couple had a housewarming and invited their friends. Karlos actually invited Roman and Larry, but the two were quite busy and unable to attend.
Larry was busy getting revenge on the Patong family. So far, the police found another drug den that the Patong family owned.
Unlike last time, the drug raid was broadcast on the news stations, and there were rumors that the drug den was owned by Governor Lang Patong. The governor obviously denied the allegations, but his name was already tarnished. In the next election, he might have a hard time winning with his reputation damaged.
As for Roman, the wealthy guy was in Maynila and attended many business meetings. His father, Heneral Alejandro, was also talking to Roman about his marriage engagement, pressuring him to start a family. Heneral wanted Roman to expand the business empire through an arranged marriage.
The two wealthy guys couldn't attend, but they delivered gifts for the housewarming, such as a flat-screen TV, electric fans, lamps, and electric kettles. Now the family had two televisions and more appliances. Well, they could put the other appliances in the master bedroom, making it livelier.
Chapter 145
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 145
Their relatives showed up early, preparing for the celebration and cooking dishes for the party. The house was lively in the morning, almost like a small festival. Joseph and Andres were responsible for the heavy work, while the women prepared the dishes.
Mrs. Wanda and Foster also showed up, bringing fruits in a basket. Mrs. Wanda wanted to help, but Maya said that she was a guest this time and should be treated as such with proper hospitality.
Mrs. Wanda and Foster had no choice but to entertain the energetic twins. The two toddlers were walking and giggling, being followed by the two old people.
Arabella and Iñigo could walk now, which made them more troublesome and naughty.
The housewarming party started, and people who showed up were the ones who attended the twins' first birthday. But of course, everyone in the neighborhood was also invited. The front yard was filled with people going in and out, holding plates piled with food.
The Alejandro family prepared a lot of dishes and made sure every guest could eat to their heart's content. Maya checked the pots every few minutes, making sure there was still food available for late visitors.
The housewarming party was a success. Nothing much happened, just the comforting chaos of the neighborhood, with children running and adults chatting. They technically just had a feeding program, as almost everyone in the neighborhood visited the house to eat, some even returning for seconds. They also greeted and congratulated Karlos and Maya on their new house.
Some were genuinely happy, while others were jealous of their progress.
Just a reminder, not every house on the beachside was poor-looking. Some boat owners had nice houses, even Antonio and Jerry's houses were two-storey homes that looked nice and well maintained.
And now, Karlos's house was part of those nice-looking ones. At least when people looked at their house, no one would think that they were poor.
Last year, the family only lived in a tiny house made of bamboo called a kubo. Yet now, the house looked grand and beautiful with concrete walls and glass windows. Some even expressed envy at the garden that Maya was taking care of, as some plants were already growing.
.........
......
...
"Sir, just sign here." The manager slid the papers forward with an eager smile.
"Alright." Karlos held the pen while checking the details.
"The papers are already done. We will also handle the driver's license." The manager rubbed his hands, smiling at Karlos.
Karlos decided to buy a motorcycle. The dealership let him test-drive it, and they also took care of the registration of the motorcycle, saving him hours of visiting government offices.
On top of that, the dealership also had a driver's examination for new drivers. Karlos passed the exam and was eligible for a license. He just had to pay the dealership 5,000 pesos to handle the papers, on top of paying for the motorcycle.
That would save time, and Karlos didn't mind the additional payment. At least he didn't have to spend time going in and out of the town hall to process the papers. No wonder Joseph recommended this place to him, Joseph clearly knew the shortcuts.
As for the idea that the dealership would scam him out of the registration and the papers, that wouldn't happen. The place had a reputation. The dealership was close to the town hall and had connections to the officers there. Their business was booming because of the benefits and fast processing they offered.
As for the driver's license, he would receive a call to go to the town hall and process it for final verification. Overall, it was worth it.
He spent 60,000 pesos to buy a Hunda TMX 155 cc, a brand-new unit. He received the motorcycle and quickly used it to reach the welding shop that would attach the sidecar to it. As much as he wanted to try riding the motorcycle alone, he knew the purpose for which he bought it. So without waiting, he decided to attach the sidecar, finishing the tasks in a day.
"So Joseph is your brother-in-law? I see, so he introduced you to this shop. Come, come, we will give you a discount." The business owner waved him inside, he smelled business.
Karlos saw the sidecars they made, they personally welded them. There were even welders inside, and sparks were flying around. He obviously chose the sidecar that had a roof so that they would be protected from the rain and the sun. He paid upfront, 15,000 pesos in cash.
Overall, he spent 90,000 pesos today. It was expensive but within the budget. Maya gave him approval to spend 120,000 pesos. Karlos didn't go overboard, and his wallet still had bills remaining.
As expected, he had to leave the motorcycle in the shop as they would attach the sidecar to it. However, Karlos had the key so it wouldn't be stolen. He could take back the tricycle tomorrow after completion.
Karlos found a shop that sold chicken kebabs and bought a box for his family. He then hired a tricycle to take him back to the beachside. All the papers and documents regarding his motorcycle and sidecar were with him.
By the time he returned to the house, it was already afternoon. Arabella and Iñigo were sleeping, so Karlos had to be quiet and not disturb them.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back," Maya smiled at him and hugged him warmly. The couple shared a light kiss, brief but affectionate.
"Did you finish your tasks?" she asked.
"Everything's done. We can get the tricycle tomorrow. Do you want to go with me?" Karlos invited her.
"I have to take care of the kids," she smiled apologetically.
"Come on, it's just a short date."
"A date?"
"Yeah, we can explore the town plaza once we get the tricycle. Reina can take care of the twins, let's just bring them presents as a thank you."
"... Alright."
Indeed, the couple rarely had time to spend with each other. But spoiler alert, they failed to have a date. When they tried to leave the twins at Reina's house, they cried so loudly, and Maya couldn't handle their cries. Her heart ached watching them sad. So the couple brought the twins when they got the tricycle.
[Thank you guys for reading this novel.]
Their relatives showed up early, preparing for the celebration and cooking dishes for the party. The house was lively in the morning, almost like a small festival. Joseph and Andres were responsible for the heavy work, while the women prepared the dishes.
Mrs. Wanda and Foster also showed up, bringing fruits in a basket. Mrs. Wanda wanted to help, but Maya said that she was a guest this time and should be treated as such with proper hospitality.
Mrs. Wanda and Foster had no choice but to entertain the energetic twins. The two toddlers were walking and giggling, being followed by the two old people.
Arabella and Iñigo could walk now, which made them more troublesome and naughty.
The housewarming party started, and people who showed up were the ones who attended the twins' first birthday. But of course, everyone in the neighborhood was also invited. The front yard was filled with people going in and out, holding plates piled with food.
The Alejandro family prepared a lot of dishes and made sure every guest could eat to their heart's content. Maya checked the pots every few minutes, making sure there was still food available for late visitors.
The housewarming party was a success. Nothing much happened, just the comforting chaos of the neighborhood, with children running and adults chatting. They technically just had a feeding program, as almost everyone in the neighborhood visited the house to eat, some even returning for seconds. They also greeted and congratulated Karlos and Maya on their new house.
Some were genuinely happy, while others were jealous of their progress.
Just a reminder, not every house on the beachside was poor-looking. Some boat owners had nice houses, even Antonio and Jerry's houses were two-storey homes that looked nice and well maintained.
And now, Karlos's house was part of those nice-looking ones. At least when people looked at their house, no one would think that they were poor.
Last year, the family only lived in a tiny house made of bamboo called a kubo. Yet now, the house looked grand and beautiful with concrete walls and glass windows. Some even expressed envy at the garden that Maya was taking care of, as some plants were already growing.
.........
......
...
"Sir, just sign here." The manager slid the papers forward with an eager smile.
"Alright." Karlos held the pen while checking the details.
"The papers are already done. We will also handle the driver's license." The manager rubbed his hands, smiling at Karlos.
Karlos decided to buy a motorcycle. The dealership let him test-drive it, and they also took care of the registration of the motorcycle, saving him hours of visiting government offices.
On top of that, the dealership also had a driver's examination for new drivers. Karlos passed the exam and was eligible for a license. He just had to pay the dealership 5,000 pesos to handle the papers, on top of paying for the motorcycle.
That would save time, and Karlos didn't mind the additional payment. At least he didn't have to spend time going in and out of the town hall to process the papers. No wonder Joseph recommended this place to him, Joseph clearly knew the shortcuts.
As for the idea that the dealership would scam him out of the registration and the papers, that wouldn't happen. The place had a reputation. The dealership was close to the town hall and had connections to the officers there. Their business was booming because of the benefits and fast processing they offered.
As for the driver's license, he would receive a call to go to the town hall and process it for final verification. Overall, it was worth it.
He spent 60,000 pesos to buy a Hunda TMX 155 cc, a brand-new unit. He received the motorcycle and quickly used it to reach the welding shop that would attach the sidecar to it. As much as he wanted to try riding the motorcycle alone, he knew the purpose for which he bought it. So without waiting, he decided to attach the sidecar, finishing the tasks in a day.
"So Joseph is your brother-in-law? I see, so he introduced you to this shop. Come, come, we will give you a discount." The business owner waved him inside, he smelled business.
Karlos saw the sidecars they made, they personally welded them. There were even welders inside, and sparks were flying around. He obviously chose the sidecar that had a roof so that they would be protected from the rain and the sun. He paid upfront, 15,000 pesos in cash.
Overall, he spent 90,000 pesos today. It was expensive but within the budget. Maya gave him approval to spend 120,000 pesos. Karlos didn't go overboard, and his wallet still had bills remaining.
As expected, he had to leave the motorcycle in the shop as they would attach the sidecar to it. However, Karlos had the key so it wouldn't be stolen. He could take back the tricycle tomorrow after completion.
Karlos found a shop that sold chicken kebabs and bought a box for his family. He then hired a tricycle to take him back to the beachside. All the papers and documents regarding his motorcycle and sidecar were with him.
By the time he returned to the house, it was already afternoon. Arabella and Iñigo were sleeping, so Karlos had to be quiet and not disturb them.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back," Maya smiled at him and hugged him warmly. The couple shared a light kiss, brief but affectionate.
"Did you finish your tasks?" she asked.
"Everything's done. We can get the tricycle tomorrow. Do you want to go with me?" Karlos invited her.
"I have to take care of the kids," she smiled apologetically.
"Come on, it's just a short date."
"A date?"
"Yeah, we can explore the town plaza once we get the tricycle. Reina can take care of the twins, let's just bring them presents as a thank you."
"... Alright."
Indeed, the couple rarely had time to spend with each other. But spoiler alert, they failed to have a date. When they tried to leave the twins at Reina's house, they cried so loudly, and Maya couldn't handle their cries. Her heart ached watching them sad. So the couple brought the twins when they got the tricycle.
[Thank you guys for reading this novel.]
SomeNormalKid04
Getting sticky.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2023
- Messages
- 56
- Likes received
- 284
Thanks for the chapter 
Chapter 146
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,296
- Likes received
- 21,818
Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 146
"How much was the motorcycle and the sidecar?" Maya asked. Money was always important, especially now that they were parents.
"90,000 pesos. Here's the receipt, the papers, and the remaining money." Karlos put the documents and money on the table. Maya carefully read them and nodded, satisfied with the expenses.
"You sure you can drive a motorcycle?" she asked, giving him a half-teasing grin.
"Of course. Believe in me. I'm that good." Karlos grinned and embraced her with confidence.
"Hm, you're so good." Maya blushed and agreed... although she might have been talking about another topic.
Having transportation was important, as they could travel to places faster without relying on others. Maya felt relieved because they could buy groceries with ease now.
"What did you buy?" she asked, looking at the box.
"Chicken kebab, freshly grilled."
"Looks delicious. It's a good thing I already cooked the rice. We can eat first." Maya opened the box, and the scent of the spices welcomed her. The smell alone made her instantly hungry.
Karlos helped her prepare the table.
Aside from steamed rice, Maya also prepared a vegetable salad and braised grouper, a simple but delicious meal.
When the couple was about to take their first bite, they heard a noise from the sofa, a small rustle. Arabella sat up and wiped her eyes. She sniffed the air, as if her nose had caught a nice smell.
"..." Karlos and Maya were speechless, sharing a look that said, 'of course she woke up now'.
"Is there anyone in your family who has a strong sense of smell?" Karlos asked his wife, trying not to laugh.
"I don't think so." Maya shook her head thoughtfully.
Perhaps Arabella didn't have a strong sense of smell. She was just a glutton who reacted to food.
"Mama..." Arabella sleepily said. "Foohd..." She yawned and stretched her arms like a tiny kitten.
Maya sighed and approached the little girl. "Let's wipe your face first. You have eye boogers." She gently cupped Arabella's cheeks.
"Hm." Arabella nodded and leaned into Maya.
A few seconds later, Iñigo also woke up. He felt the movements of the sofa, and that made him wake up. He frowned at his sister, he woke up because she moved too much.
"My little boy also woke up? Want to eat with us?" Maya asked in a baby voice, wiggling her fingers at him playfully.
Iñigo nodded, already reaching his arms out, wanting to be included.
With that, the couple's short peace ended. They ate quite an early dinner since it was still 4 pm.
Arabella and Iñigo regained their energy and asked their father to play with them. Their mother didn't have the strength or energy to match them, and Karlos was a nice playmate, always willing. The kids knew exactly how to exploit him.
For two hours straight, Karlos had no choice but to act like a monster and roar, following them slowly and dramatically. The kids giggled as Karlos roared cartoonishly and tried to catch them.
"Mohhster! Hihihihi!" Arabella giggled and ran away to the hallway. However, Karlos caught her and carried her to the sofa, swinging her gently.
Iñigo tried to hide under the table, but Karlos roared and caught him, and he also put him on the sofa beside his sister. They kept repeating the same game until the kids grew tired and exhausted.
As for Maya, she had rare moments of rest and used that time to read romance novels. Let their father handle their endless energy, she wasn't going to argue with that arrangement.
"Kids, your Mama and I are going to the town plaza tomorrow. You promise to stay behaved at Auntie Reina's house, alright?" Karlos said to them and squatted down to their eye level.
The twins felt like they understood and, at the same time, did not. Arabella nodded, as she loved playing with her big sister Jenny. Big sister Jenny attended her "tea party" once in a while. Arabella had a complete set of tea party toys, and sometimes she liked playing with them, especially with someone.
Unlike Arabella, Iñigo shook his head firmly. He understood what Karlos said better than his sister. Whenever their parents brought them to Auntie Reina, they would disappear for a long time. For Iñigo, a few hours without seeing his parents was a long time.
"Me, go, with you." It seemed that Iñigo formed a sentence.
"You want to go with us?" Karlos was surprised.
"Hm." Iñigo nodded and hugged Karlos.
"Well, let's talk about it tomorrow." Karlos gently patted him.
.........
......
...
The next day.
Karlos was wearing a baby carrier on his chest, adjusting the straps awkwardly.
"Aww, you really love Mama so much that you want to be with me forever?" Maya talked to her children in a sweet voice, wiping their tears with her thumbs.
Iñigo and Arabella had a meltdown when their parents tried to leave them with Auntie Reina. The couple was wearing something nice, so the children automatically thought that their parents would go somewhere nice and leave them behind.
Such betrayal! Or at least that was how it felt to them.
Naturally, the twins used their greatest weapon, which was their tears. They knew that their parents were weak to their cries, especially Maya, who felt like her heart was getting stabbed whenever her children cried in sadness.
Because of their tactics, the couple had no choice but to take them to the welding shop. Now, Karlos was wearing a baby carrier. This would be the first time he used one, and he looked ridiculous.
A baby carrier is a wearable device that allows a parent to carry a baby hands-free, either on the chest or the back.
"Do I really have to wear this? I can carry them fine," Karlos said. He was not used to it because something was strapped to his chest.
[Thank you guys for reading this novel.]
"How much was the motorcycle and the sidecar?" Maya asked. Money was always important, especially now that they were parents.
"90,000 pesos. Here's the receipt, the papers, and the remaining money." Karlos put the documents and money on the table. Maya carefully read them and nodded, satisfied with the expenses.
"You sure you can drive a motorcycle?" she asked, giving him a half-teasing grin.
"Of course. Believe in me. I'm that good." Karlos grinned and embraced her with confidence.
"Hm, you're so good." Maya blushed and agreed... although she might have been talking about another topic.
Having transportation was important, as they could travel to places faster without relying on others. Maya felt relieved because they could buy groceries with ease now.
"What did you buy?" she asked, looking at the box.
"Chicken kebab, freshly grilled."
"Looks delicious. It's a good thing I already cooked the rice. We can eat first." Maya opened the box, and the scent of the spices welcomed her. The smell alone made her instantly hungry.
Karlos helped her prepare the table.
Aside from steamed rice, Maya also prepared a vegetable salad and braised grouper, a simple but delicious meal.
When the couple was about to take their first bite, they heard a noise from the sofa, a small rustle. Arabella sat up and wiped her eyes. She sniffed the air, as if her nose had caught a nice smell.
"..." Karlos and Maya were speechless, sharing a look that said, 'of course she woke up now'.
"Is there anyone in your family who has a strong sense of smell?" Karlos asked his wife, trying not to laugh.
"I don't think so." Maya shook her head thoughtfully.
Perhaps Arabella didn't have a strong sense of smell. She was just a glutton who reacted to food.
"Mama..." Arabella sleepily said. "Foohd..." She yawned and stretched her arms like a tiny kitten.
Maya sighed and approached the little girl. "Let's wipe your face first. You have eye boogers." She gently cupped Arabella's cheeks.
"Hm." Arabella nodded and leaned into Maya.
A few seconds later, Iñigo also woke up. He felt the movements of the sofa, and that made him wake up. He frowned at his sister, he woke up because she moved too much.
"My little boy also woke up? Want to eat with us?" Maya asked in a baby voice, wiggling her fingers at him playfully.
Iñigo nodded, already reaching his arms out, wanting to be included.
With that, the couple's short peace ended. They ate quite an early dinner since it was still 4 pm.
Arabella and Iñigo regained their energy and asked their father to play with them. Their mother didn't have the strength or energy to match them, and Karlos was a nice playmate, always willing. The kids knew exactly how to exploit him.
For two hours straight, Karlos had no choice but to act like a monster and roar, following them slowly and dramatically. The kids giggled as Karlos roared cartoonishly and tried to catch them.
"Mohhster! Hihihihi!" Arabella giggled and ran away to the hallway. However, Karlos caught her and carried her to the sofa, swinging her gently.
Iñigo tried to hide under the table, but Karlos roared and caught him, and he also put him on the sofa beside his sister. They kept repeating the same game until the kids grew tired and exhausted.
As for Maya, she had rare moments of rest and used that time to read romance novels. Let their father handle their endless energy, she wasn't going to argue with that arrangement.
"Kids, your Mama and I are going to the town plaza tomorrow. You promise to stay behaved at Auntie Reina's house, alright?" Karlos said to them and squatted down to their eye level.
The twins felt like they understood and, at the same time, did not. Arabella nodded, as she loved playing with her big sister Jenny. Big sister Jenny attended her "tea party" once in a while. Arabella had a complete set of tea party toys, and sometimes she liked playing with them, especially with someone.
Unlike Arabella, Iñigo shook his head firmly. He understood what Karlos said better than his sister. Whenever their parents brought them to Auntie Reina, they would disappear for a long time. For Iñigo, a few hours without seeing his parents was a long time.
"Me, go, with you." It seemed that Iñigo formed a sentence.
"You want to go with us?" Karlos was surprised.
"Hm." Iñigo nodded and hugged Karlos.
"Well, let's talk about it tomorrow." Karlos gently patted him.
.........
......
...
The next day.
Karlos was wearing a baby carrier on his chest, adjusting the straps awkwardly.
"Aww, you really love Mama so much that you want to be with me forever?" Maya talked to her children in a sweet voice, wiping their tears with her thumbs.
Iñigo and Arabella had a meltdown when their parents tried to leave them with Auntie Reina. The couple was wearing something nice, so the children automatically thought that their parents would go somewhere nice and leave them behind.
Such betrayal! Or at least that was how it felt to them.
Naturally, the twins used their greatest weapon, which was their tears. They knew that their parents were weak to their cries, especially Maya, who felt like her heart was getting stabbed whenever her children cried in sadness.
Because of their tactics, the couple had no choice but to take them to the welding shop. Now, Karlos was wearing a baby carrier. This would be the first time he used one, and he looked ridiculous.
A baby carrier is a wearable device that allows a parent to carry a baby hands-free, either on the chest or the back.
"Do I really have to wear this? I can carry them fine," Karlos said. He was not used to it because something was strapped to his chest.
[Thank you guys for reading this novel.]
SomeNormalKid04
Getting sticky.
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2023
- Messages
- 56
- Likes received
- 284
Thanks for the chapter