Chapter 18

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 18

"More than 5,000 pesos in one sailing..."

Maya weakly muttered under her breath in disbelief while counting the money Karlos had earned from the day's catch.

Despite holding the cash tightly in her hands, Maya couldn’t help but sigh as the weight of her worry pressed heavily on her chest. She knew that a salaried man working in an office wouldn’t earn 5,000 pesos in a single day no matter how hard he tried. That was just impossible.

She knew that Karlos was meant for the sea, especially since he could earn such a huge amount in just one day with his fishing skills.

However, Maya couldn’t shake her concern. She had lived in this town her entire life, and she understood how dangerous the sea truly was, especially during storms or unpredictable tides. She feared that one day, something might happen to Karlos and she would never see him again.

Maya loved her husband more than anything. Yes, she loved Karlos more than her own children, even though it felt wrong to admit it. The reason she agreed to start a family with him in the first place was because she couldn’t imagine a life without him. Maybe it was obsession, some might call it unhealthy, but she loved him more than words could explain.

Of course, she was grateful that Karlos worked hard for their family and always did his best. But if possible, she didn’t want him to remain a fisherman forever, constantly risking his life at sea.

That was why she was glad when Karlos listened to her during their talk a few days ago. He had said that if fishing wasn’t the right path or if he couldn't support the family through it, he would look for another job. Maya was thrilled that he took her opinion seriously.

Unfortunately, judging by how things were going, Karlos was truly meant to be a fisherman. The fact that he could earn 5,000 pesos in a single day, twenty times the daily minimum wage, was both extraordinary and rare. The minimum wage in their region was only 250 pesos, yet Karlos easily surpassed that amount, as if it were nothing.

He was truly a man blessed by the sea and guided by fortune. Even a typical office worker would trade places with Karlos in an instant just to earn 5,000 pesos per day.

Maya carefully placed the money in the hidden stash inside the secret compartment of the cabinet, a small spot that only she and Karlos knew about.

"It seems like Karlos will choose to be a fisherman no matter what," she murmured to herself, slowly accepting the truth.

On top of that, it was clear that Karlos genuinely loved being a fisherman. He didn’t see the job as monotonous or boring like others might think. Every trip to the sea brought new surprises and a sense of adventure.

Once she was done counting the money and checking the receipt meticulously, Maya noticed something odd. 40 pesos were missing from the expected amount. She decided to let it go. Maybe Karlos had spent it on something small or necessary.

'...Perhaps beer?' she thought bitterly to herself.

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Karlos, like many men, had a habit of drinking, especially after a long tiring day. Though he’d been trying to control the urge over the past two weeks due to their tight finances, she still had her doubts.

"I'll ask him later," she finally decided, making a mental note.

Just a few minutes later, Karlos returned with groceries and a wide smile on his face. He neatly arranged the items on the table and helped Maya cook the chicken without needing to be asked. Tonight, they would have chicken adobo, a delicious meal and also the name of their country.

When dinner was served, the couple enjoyed the adobo along with the three crabs Karlos had brought home.

The children were eager to eat crab meat, so Maya patiently fed them.

"Babe, the money you brought home is missing 40 pesos based on the receipt," Maya said in a firm tone.

"Ah, that. I forgot to tell you. I paid Andres and the people who helped me 40 pesos," Karlos replied casually.

"I see. That explains it," Maya nodded, her heart settling.

She sighed in relief. She was glad to know he hadn’t spent the money on beer behind her back. She didn't want her husband to get addicted to alcohol.

"Oh, by the way, babe~ Can I buy a bottle of beer, please?" Karlos asked in a playful tone.

He started baby-talking and tried to win Maya over, but she had a stern expression like a strict teacher. She stared at him while he acted cute, like a puppy begging for food.

"..."

"Please~"

"Just one," she finally gave in.

"Thank you!" Karlos exclaimed with joy.

He hugged her and did all the chores without a single complaint. He washed the dishes while Maya took care of the babies, who were starting to get sleepy.

After finishing the chores, Karlos went to the small neighborhood store and bought a cold bottle of beer straight from the refrigerator.

He greeted their neighbors politely on his way back, cheerful and relaxed. Back at home, he drank the liquor like it was the best thing in the world, savoring every sip.

Maya grimaced while watching him enjoy a bitter drink she could never understand. She never got the appeal of alcohol, it didn’t even taste good, at least not to her. Her father loved alcohol. Her brother loved alcohol. And now, even her husband loved it just the same.

"...I guess I'll always be a part of an alcoholic family," she sighed to herself, shaking her head lightly.

That night, Karlos went to bed early with a content smile on his face, knowing he had to rise before dawn. Maya turned off the lights and set up the mosquito nets to protect the family from bites.

.........

......

...

"Waahh--!"

"Waahh--!"

Karlos sat up and rubbed his face groggily. The kids were crying in duet again. He looked at the clock on the wall. It was 2:45 a.m. Still early, but not unusual. Just a few minutes earlier than his usual wake-up time for fishing.

Despite feeling sluggish and half-asleep, Karlos got up and attended to the kids with practiced hands. He checked their diapers and they were clean. That meant they were probably hungry.

One thing he had learned as a father of twins, Arabella and Iñigo loved crying in duet. If one started crying, the other followed without hesitation.

He found their clean milk bottles neatly stacked in the cabinet. He added formula and warm water from the thermos, shook the bottles gently and evenly, and tested the temperature to make sure it was safe.

He handed each of them a bottle, smiling softly. Arabella and Iñigo could already hold the bottles on their own, but he still supervised them, just in case.

Arabella finished first and exhaled peacefully. She let go of the bottle and drifted back to sleep like nothing happened. A few minutes later, Iñigo finished his as well. Karlos took their bottles and kissed both their foreheads.

Then he checked on his wife and kissed her forehead gently before turning away.

He placed the used bottles in the sink and began preparing for the long day ahead. He picked up the styrofoam box, his bag, the engine, and a bottle of diesel all in one go, trying not to make a sound.

Other men in the neighborhood who were also heading to sea were waking up around the same time. They greeted each other quietly as they walked toward their boats, preparing to set sail before sunrise.

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