Chapter 21

Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 21

Karlos was genuinely interested in seeing what was going on at the fish port with his own eyes. To gain insight into the latest happenings and checking the prices of the seafood being sold during that hour. However, since he was carrying about seven thousand pesos in pure cash, a rather sizable amount for someone like him, he wasn’t comfortable walking around with that much money in hand while blending into a busy crowd. So, he decided to return home instead and play it safe for the moment.

His boat reached the beach quickly. As usual, some people were already waiting there and helped Karlos lift the boat onto the sand. He thanked them and gave a tip to show his appreciation. His shoulders ached from the endless scooping of squids.

He also asked them to watch over his engine for a short time while he returned to the house to carry back his belongings.

"I'm back."

"Welcome~ Iñigo, look, Papa is back! Greet him with your little hands."

Maya was holding Iñigo in her arms. The little boy looked at Karlos and waved his hand in an uncoordinated but heartfelt motion.

"Aww, you're so cute!" Maya cuddled Iñigo and nuzzled his cheek. The little boy giggled happily in response.

"Put your belongings down. I'll sort them later," Maya said to him.

Karlos approached and kissed Maya and Iñigo in a quick but affectionate gesture. He also kissed Arabella, who was crawling near the entrance with curiosity.

"Here's the money and the receipt. I gave the young men on the beach a tip." Karlos handed the money and the receipt to his wife before leaving again. He needed to return to the beach to remove the engine before anyone could tamper with it.

Last night, while buying beer at the small store near the neighborhood, he overheard gossip that a boat engine had been stolen a few days ago in a nearby coastal village.

"Alright." Maya nodded and placed Iñigo on the bedding spread across the floor. The twins started crawling toward Karlos' belongings, particularly his old bag, which carried the smell of the sea.

The styrofoam box and container were set outside the house, underneath it, actually. The Kubo was elevated about two feet above the ground. Some of their less important belongings were stored under the house to protect them from the sun and the rain.

Maya carefully counted the money, placing the bills neatly into groups, while the kids explored Karlos’ bag. The twins eventually found a biscuit cracker hidden in the side pocket.

"Ah-! Ga!"

Arabella called out to Maya in an urgent, squeaky tone. She was asking for help opening the biscuit while shaking the packet in frustration. She waved it like a flag of demand.

"Let me count the money first, sweetie. We have to make sure the amount is right so we don’t get confused later. Besides, you can't eat dry biscuits. They need water or they’ll get stuck in your throat," Maya replied.

The little girl didn’t understand a word of that. She stared with wide, confused eyes. Then she decided to slam the biscuit onto the wooden floor, hoping she could tear the plastic open with her newly invented technique. However, the plastic didn’t tear at all, only the biscuits inside cracked into uneven pieces.

Arabella frowned and bit the plastic, but her front teeth were still too small to make a tear. Instead, the plastic wrapper was soon covered in her saliva.

"Dear Goddess, what are you doing? I just counted the money for a few seconds, and now I find you biting the plastic wrapper of the biscuits. That’s dirty."

Maya spoke sternly and grabbed the biscuit from Arabella before she could shove it into her mouth. The little girl started crying loudly, sobbing with her tiny feet kicking the floor as she thought Maya had stolen her food.

As for Iñigo, he just sat quietly, watching the scene with wide eyes. He was waiting to be fed and didn’t want to get involved in the chaos.

"Alright, alright, stop crying. I'll prepare food for you guys. Just let me put this money in the cabinet first."

Maya moved quickly as Arabella’s crying got louder. Biscuit crackers were quite tough and needed water to soften, far from ideal for toddlers.

She fed the twins mashed banana instead. It was one of their usual meals aside from baby food, as it was soft and nutritious.

The twins forgot about the biscuits completely and focused on the spoonfuls of banana, happily munching away.

A few minutes later, Karlos returned with the engine. He placed it in the corner of the house, far from where the kids usually crawled.

"I’ll feed the kids first. You go eat on your own."

"It’s alright. I can help feed one of the kids so it’s faster. Then we can eat together afterward and relax."

"You take care of Iñigo then."

Maya smiled.

Karlos scooped up mushed banana from a small feeding bowl and fed his son.

"If there's something great, the kids aren't choosy. They eat almost everything we feed them without throwing tantrums. They're healthy, active, and developing just fine," Maya said.

"I'm happy that they're doing great," Karlos replied, waiting for Iñigo to finish chewing before bringing the next spoonful to his mouth.

Feeding babies requires patience and a calm mindset. Fortunately, the twins behaved well during mealtime. They didn’t make a fuss or throw food. As long as something was in their mouths, they wouldn’t scream or cause trouble.

"I saw that the grocery store is selling pacifiers, two for twenty-five pesos. Do you want me to buy two for the kids later? I didn’t know why you threw their pacifiers last time without telling me. Was it because they were too used and dirty or chewed beyond recognition?"

Maya thought about it for a moment, then shook her head.

"It’s alright. The kids don’t need pacifiers anymore. It can delay their speech and misalign their teeth if they keep using them."

"Alright."

Feeding the babies took about an hour, as they were slow eaters despite having a strong appetite.

"You didn’t eat the biscuits I prepared for you again," Maya pouted slightly while gently patting Arabella’s back as she carried her over her shoulder to help her burp.

"Cause I don’t have to. I always return around noon anyway, and there’s already a meal prepared by you. No need to waste the biscuits if I’m going to have a full meal. Besides, I prefer eating you. I mean, I prefer eating your food," Karlos replied, while also helping Iñigo burp. There were twenty-six letters in the alphabet, and he chose to form them with facts.

"Do as you wish then. Just eat the crackers if you're hungry." Maya sighed. Her husband could be too much of a cheapskate sometimes.

"Don’t worry. If I feel hungry, I’ll eat the crackers," Karlos assured her with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

Eating biscuit cracker was tough, they were dry and crumbly, and he had to drink water in between bites.

The twins slowly fell asleep with full stomachs and satisfied expressions, as their parents gently patted their backs with loving rhythm. Karlos and Maya tucked them into their crib and covered them with a soft blanket.

The couple then set the table outside the Kubo, under the shade of a tarpaulin, and prepared the dishes. As they ate, Karlos shared stories about what he had encountered at sea earlier. He described the school of squids he had found and how he managed to scoop up about thirty kilograms all by himself.

"Your shoulders probably ache. Want me to put rubbing oil on them later once we’re done eating?"

"Yes, please."

Karlos appreciated the concern. His arms and shoulders were still trembling from the repetitive strain earlier.