Chapter 13

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 13

Karlos got busy cooking in their open kitchen while Maya took care of the kids, who were now active and excitedly reaching out after seeing some delicious items from the groceries Joseph had brought.

"Ga! Ga!"

Arabella, in particular, was slapping her mother's thigh with her tiny hands, clearly hungry.

"Okay, okay. I'll give you some food. Let me just sort this stuff and put it in the small room."

Maya took out an avocado from the groceries Joseph had given and mashed it in a bowl before feeding the twins. Iñigo was fed first, and Arabella didn’t like that. She tried to grab the spoon from Maya with both hands.

"Ga!!"

"Arabella, behave yourself. Here, I’ll feed you too, don’t worry."

The little girl settled down with mild grumpiness after being convinced by half a spoonful of mashed avocado.

Clearly, Arabella was the more troublesome one with her many antics, while Iñigo was the well-behaved one who always waited patiently.

After an hour of cooking, with steam rising from the pot and the aroma spreading through the surroundings, Karlos announced that he was done. The couple began eating at the wooden table outside the kubo. As for the twins, they had fallen asleep after a satisfying meal.

"I left a single fish for bait tomorrow," Karlos said, glancing at the fish soaking in water in a small metal basin.

Soaking a fish in clean water could delay rotting, but it also ruined the texture and flavor, making it mushy.

Since they had no intention of eating it, that wasn’t a problem.

"Okay. I’ll prepare some clothes and crackers for you later so you won’t go hungry out there," Maya nodded, and they continued eating in peace now that the kids were sleeping.

That night, the couple decided to sleep early, skipping their usual nightly chat and funny business.

Karlos had to wake up very early to fish before sunrise.

Being a fisherman, Karlos naturally woke up before the sun thanks to years of habit and discipline. He gently got up from the bedding he shared with Maya, making sure not to wake her or the kids.

He grabbed his patched-up bag, which held his belongings and the food Maya had packed the night before. He wore a hat with a flashlight attached to it, then leaned down and kissed his wife on the forehead. Maya slightly opened her eyes and muttered:

"Take care. Always be alert to your surroundings... I love you."

"I love you too," Karlos replied softly so as not to wake the babies.

Maya returned to sleep, a faint smile lingering on her lips.

Karlos quietly closed the door and picked up the engine, bottles of diesel, and his bag. He packed them into a styrofoam box for easier carrying. Carrying it over his shoulder, he walked toward the shore, the moonlight dimly lighting his path.

Along the way, he saw other men coming out of their houses to begin their day of fishing, just like him.

They nodded and greeted each other, a form of camaraderie, before going about their own business.

On the beach, dozens of boats were docked in rows. Some were huge and long, others were chained up. A few were small and powered only by paddles instead of motors.

Karlos reached his boat, attached the engine, and unchained it. He poured diesel from an old plastic bottle into the tank.

Some nearby fishermen helped push his boat into the sea with practiced teamwork, and Karlos thanked them with a grateful nod and a smile.

The sun had not yet risen, and darkness still blanketed everything. The stars shone brightly above the quiet sea.

Karlos started his engine using the crank handle, and it revved loudly. He grabbed the steering handle and turned on the light attached to his hat, which illuminated only a small area ahead.

The boat began to move forward, slowly gaining momentum as the waves gently rocked it. Karlos felt that the waves were a bit strong but still manageable. He decided to maintain a steady speed rather than accelerating, to avoid being capsized.

Based on the engine's output, the boat was likely running at around 7 horsepower, just enough for a modest trip.

About two kilometers south of their town were mangroves, and that was where Karlos set and checked his traps. With the boat's speed and the current conditions, he estimated it would take around 20 minutes to reach the mangroves if everything remained calm.

Steering the boat was monotonous but required constant attention. Karlos had to be mindful of reefs near the surface to avoid running aground his boat, a damage he couldn't afford.

Thankfully, he knew the route like the back of his hand and was confident he could avoid danger, even in darkness.

To his left, he could see the faint silhouette of the land. To his right stretched the endless sea, black and vast, reflecting the stars above.

Some might be scared by this scenery, where the sea seemed like a bottomless void. Karlos had been nervous too when he first started fishing. But now, he was used to it and even found it oddly calming.

After 20 minutes of travel, he arrived at his destination: the mangroves and the brackish water. This was where the river met the sea, creating a mixture of salt and fresh water. Karlos didn’t know the science behind it, but he figured that’s what "brackish" meant.

Anyway, no time for daydreams about science. He began searching for floating styrofoam.

"...I hope they weren't stolen."

Karlos had been gone for two weeks due to a broken engine, and there was a real possibility that someone had taken his traps. He wasn’t the only one fishing in this area, and not everyone respected territory.

The river mouth was wide, about 50 meters across, flanked by thick mangroves that stretched over a kilometer on both sides, forming natural green walls. It was a massive place, often used by locals to catch crabs and other seafood.

Karlos had 15 traps set up here, and now he was looking for them. The traps could have been moved by the waves, or worse, stolen without a trace.

Thankfully, he spotted one of his floaters, a piece of styrofoam marked with red paint. This was one of his traps.

He grabbed the floater and pulled the thin but durable rope.

It took only a minute of pulling before the trap became visible beneath the murky water.

The trap was made of bamboo and mesh. Crabs and other seafood like prawns could easily enter but had difficulty getting out due to its clever design. Smaller ones could escape through the mesh holes, which was intentional. Karlos only kept adult crabs, allowing the young ones to grow and be caught another day.

"...Just as I expected. Most of them are dead from being trapped too long. Euugh! Smells bad."

Karlos gagged and opened the trap, wrinkling his nose. Inside were a few moving crabs and a single live tiger prawn.

He carefully placed the live crabs into the styrofoam box, arranging them neatly to avoid injuries, and making sure their pincers didn’t get him. The prawn went into a small container with just enough water to keep it alive. He secured both containers so nothing would escape.

As for the dead ones, they had likely been trapped for days and were starting to rot. With a disappointed sigh, Karlos threw them back into the water. He washed the trap, added a fresh slice of bait, and set it back in its original position.

With that done, he looked around for the next floater.