Chapter 17

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 17

After eating quickly, the couple cleaned up and prepared food for the twins who sat up excitedly. Their bright eyes wide and their little hands restlessly waiting for their meal.

This time, they were fed Cerelak, a brand of cereal meant for toddlers. The product was expensive, so they rarely gave it to the kids. Still, whenever they did, it felt like a small treat. According to Nestled promotion, Cerelak was packed with essential nutrients and vitamins needed for a child’s growth and health.

The Cerelak they used came from the groceries Joseph brought the previous day when he visited with a basket full of supplies.

Maya mixed the cereal with warm milk in a small bowl, her hands moving with practiced ease. Meanwhile, Karlos distracted the overly excited twins by making funny faces to distract them.

Arabella and Iñigo happily ate as Maya fed them spoon by spoon, opening their mouths like little birds waiting for worms. It seemed they really liked Cerelak, as they behaved unusually well. No grabbing the spoon or causing mischief as they normally would.

"Should we buy more Cerelak? I can visit the grocery later."

Karlos yawned loudly and rubbed his eyes, exhausted from waking up so early to fish.

"Cerelak is expensive."

"But it seems like the kids love it."

"Then buy one pack or two. If I remember right, one pack costs around 50 pesos. Also, buy a can of milk. We’re running low." Maya wiped the leftover food off the twins’ faces with a soft cloth and smiled gently. The kids giggled, making her smile even wider as her heart swelled with affection.

"We need to wash you."

"Ga!"

"Ha!"

Maya tickled the twins, and they burst into laughter, kicking their feet in pure delight. Their laughter echoed through the small home.

"Babe, fill the basin with warm water."

"On it."

Karlos grunted as he stood up slowly, stretching his tired back before heading to the corner where the water basin was placed. He grabbed the thermos and poured the warm water carefully to avoid splashes. After checking the temperature with his hand, he nodded. He was satisfied that the water was just right, not too hot, not too cold.

Maya carried Arabella first, whispering softly to soothe her. As soon as Arabella saw the basin, she started protesting and kicking, knowing it was bath time. Fortunately, Maya had tired her out earlier with tickling, so she was slightly more manageable than usual.

Maya always bathed Arabella first since she was the more active one, constantly moving during bath time. Handling her first made the second bath easier, especially since Iñigo was much calmer.

"Arabella, behave."

Karlos spoke sternly while holding the squirming child as Maya began washing her. Arabella looked at her father, confused, and shook her head, as if refusing to acknowledge his authority.

Then, she began flapping her feet, sending warm water splashing everywhere. It hit both Maya and Karlos, who sighed deeply in resignation. Arabella was definitely a handful.

Finding it fun, Arabella kept splashing around like she was in a tiny swimming pool. Once they finished, Karlos dressed her in a new diaper and clean clothes while she continued to wriggle energetically.

"How about diapers? Do we still have enough?"

"Yes, just buy milk and Cerelak. I'll give you money later."

A few days earlier, Karlos had already bought formula milk, but the twins had become so active that they kept asking for food and milk constantly.

"Okay."

Karlos nodded and gently placed Arabella back into the crib where she immediately became energetic again, crawling in circles and babbling with joy.

Then, the couple bathed Iñigo, who was more well-behaved and didn’t cause any trouble, a stark contrast to his sister.

"Mwah! Iñigo is such a behaved baby boy. Mama is proud of you." Maya rewarded him with a kiss.

Iñigo giggled softly, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

After drying him off, Karlos dressed him in a fresh diaper and clean clothes, then gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"You’re going to grow up to be a mature and respected guy. Make us proud, Iñigo."

"Ga! Ga!"

When Karlos placed him in the crib, both twins began crawling around again. The crib was becoming too small for them. They might soon have the strength to climb out, which worried both Maya and Karlos.

"You can take a nap first. You're tired, don’t push yourself too hard."

"Okay."

Karlos yawned again and lay down on the bamboo floor, letting the cool breeze from the window brush across his face. He had woken up early and knew he needed rest. Tomorrow would be another long day.

About an hour later, Karlos opened his eyes, groggy and frowning.

"Arabella, what are you doing?"

He saw the twins crawling on top of him like little mountain climbers. Arabella was slapping his face with her tiny hands, giggling as if she’d just pulled off the funniest prank ever.

Meanwhile, Iñigo had comfortably settled on Karlos’ stomach like it was the coziest bed in the world.

Arabella giggled again and then let out a loud fart right into her father’s face, full of mischievous glee.

"Pwe—! Pwe—! You kid! Where did you learn that?"

Maya witnessed the whole thing and burst into laughter, holding her stomach from laughing too hard.

Arabella, unaware she did anything wrong, continued laughing as well.

Karlos gently set the twins down and stood up with a long sigh. He headed to the kitchen to wash his face, hoping to get rid of the lingering stink clinging to his skin.

As he wiped himself with a towel, he glanced over at the twins, who were now crawling around, messing with anything they could reach. He sighed again, this time even deeper. He was beginning to understand just how tough childcare was. Taking care of one mischievous baby was hard enough, but two? It was a full-time job. His respect for Maya grew even more.

"Babe, here’s a 500-peso bill. Buy Cerelak and formula milk. Also, get a whole chicken. I want to eat something nice today."

"Alright!"

Karlos grinned from ear to ear. He, too, wanted to enjoy a proper meal for a change. Eating seafood every day, even if it was fresh, had become tiring.

"I already boiled the crabs," Maya added.

Karlos changed clothes and took the 500 pesos from Maya. He leaned in to kiss her, but she dodged him.

"Arabella farted on your face."

"..."

Karlos quietly accepted defeat and decided to take a bath first. The bathroom was located just outside the house, a few meters from the open kitchen.

Afterwards, he headed to the grocery store and bought Cerelak, milk, five kilograms of rice, and some canned goods.

Then he stopped by the town’s wet market to buy a whole chicken for their special meal. The fish port and wet market were in different locations. The fish port was farther away, while the wet market was more accessible for daily shopping. It also offered a wider variety of meat like pork, beef, and chicken, giving families more choices depending on their budget and preferences.

On his way back, he spotted a new stall selling toys and decided to check it out, groceries in hand.

But when he saw the prices, he shook his head.

"100 pesos for a Barbie doll? I can buy five kilos of rice with that."

He clicked his tongue in disappointment and walked away. He had wanted to bring something home for the kids, but reality reminded him of their priorities.

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[Author’s Note: The rain hasn’t stopped for a week now, and many cities are flooding. Fortunately, we live on elevated ground, so we haven’t experienced flooding here but the constant rain is still a challenge. To all my readers in the Philippines, stay safe, guys.]