Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 27
Andres was waiting by the street, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The Kubos' plot of land was just a few meters away, separated only by a patch of untamed grass and dirt. The land Maya had inherited from her parents measured about 300 square meters, a decent size for their town.
It was quite spacious, especially since the current structures included only the Kubo, an open kitchen, and a bathroom. There was also a garden, a mix of vegetables that Maya diligently cared for.
Their land was surrounded by old fences made of bamboo and wood. Some sections had been newly repaired by Karlos to protect their property from stray animals and nosy neighbors.
In front of the house stood a wooden gate, also made of bamboo. It creaked every time it opened or closed.
Andres waited in front of the gate. He knew Karlos was already up because he'd heard muffled conversation inside the Kubo. Besides, he was confident Karlos would join their little get-together. After all, that guy loved drinking alcohol just as much as he did. It was one of the reasons they had become fast friends, a bond forged quickly over shared bottles and laughter.
He spotted Karlos exiting the house, adjusting his shirt, while Maya stood near the doorway. Her arms folded, watching him with a rather cold expression.
Andres stiffened and gave a slightly awkward wave.
"Don't worry, Maya. Karlos is in safe hands! I'll make sure that no woman flirts with him!" Andres called out, half-joking, half-serious, trying to ease the tension.
"You'd better make sure," Maya replied, then turned and went back into the house without another word.
Karlos felt awkward hearing that and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. He opened the bamboo gate and greeted Andres with a smile.
"How's your day?"
"Just like always," Andres shrugged with a tired sigh. "Carrying baskets and pushing carts."
"Is there any occasion? Jerry's birthday?"
"His daughter's 2nd birthday. It's a small celebration, but he invited us to drink afterward."
"That's great... Should I buy something for his daughter?"
"Nah, just bring beer and snacks. That's all he needs from us. I managed to convince my wife to give me 60 pesos. How about you?"
"100 pesos. It feels kind of embarrassing to attend someone's party without contributing, even if it's just a small celebration."
The two laughed and decided to buy beer and corn chips from a small store along the way.
Andres and Karlos lived near the shore, while Jerry's house was in the inner part of town, a 30-minute walk away.
When they arrived at the birthday celebration, they found Jerry and Brandon already laughing loudly and opening another bottle of beer, the familiar clink of glass in the air.
"Karlos! Andres! I thought you weren't coming!" Jerry grinned and raised his beer in a cheerful toast.
"You guys already started drinking?" Andres asked, eyeing the half-filled bottle in Jerry's hand.
"We just started half an hour ago. Brandon here just arrived."
"Let's drink!"
Karlos and Andres sat down and placed the beer and snacks they had brought on a makeshift table made of plywood.
"Happy birthday to your daughter."
"Happy birthday!" they both said with genuine smiles.
Jerry, who had light green hair and a bit of a belly fat, smiled when his friends greeted his daughter, even though the little girl had already gone to sleep.
"Thanks. Her party ended an hour ago, and now it's the adults' turn!" he declared with a hearty laugh.
"Woohoo!"
The four men drank their first bottles of beer.
Jerry was a rice seller, spending his days scooping and weighing grains at his father's shop, which had been passed down through generations. Their family's business was doing well, thanks to the high demand and loyal customers. Rice was a staple food in the country and arguably the most important part of every meal, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No dish felt complete without it.
Naturally, Jerry's rice business was thriving.
Brandon, on the other hand, was a fisherman, but just a worker hired by a boat owner. He worked on a large bangka, heading out to sea daily. Their fishing trips lasted at least ten hours, often under the blazing sun. His daily wage was around 400 pesos, a modest yet steady income.
"Hey, Brandon, when are you going to get married? Karlos here already has twins. You're the only single one in our group," Andres teased, nudging him playfully with an elbow.
Their ages ranged from 21 to 25, young adults in the prime of their working years. They weren't old by any means, but in their country, especially in rural communities, this was the typical age for starting a family.
Jerry, at 23, already had a daughter.
Karlos, at 21, was a responsible family man with twins.
Andres, the oldest at 25, had a son and a daughter.
Brandon was 24, single, and not even dating. Not by choice, but because of his circumstances.
"Why are you even asking me that!? Just look at my cross-eyed and you'll understand why," Brandon snapped, his voice rising. The others laughed despite the bitterness in his tone.
Brandon was cross-eyed. His eyes didn't focus straight and often darted in different directions unintentionally. It affected his life in many ways, both socially and romantically. He was frequently teased by peers and ignored by women. He had long stopped expecting compliments. He also had yellow hair.
"If we don't include your cross-eyed in the equation, you're actually a nice guy," Karlos said, patting him on the back.
"Being a nice guy isn't enough. The only way for me to get a wife is to become rich. I hope one day I'll find a Millennium Pearl," Brandon sighed after taking a large gulp of beer, as if trying to drown his hopelessness.
"In your dreams. A Millennium Pearl is extremely hard to find. You'd have to dive deep into the ocean for one," Andres replied.
The Millennium Pearl was a rare and valuable gem known for its unique properties.
The men continued drinking and chatting as the sky darkened and crickets began to chirp. They discussed everything, from the price of fish to the mayor's latest development plans.
"Hey, I heard they're going to expand the northern part of town."
"I heard about that too."
"Thinking of buying land there? You might get lucky if your plot ends up in a good spot," Brandon asked Jerry with a half-serious tone.
"Nah. We don't even know the municipality's exact plan for infrastructure there. And besides, the rich probably bought up all the good spots already," Jerry replied. Besides, he wasn't the one in charge of their finances, his father was. The old man still made all major decisions.
The four men continued their little party until 7 p.m., their laughter echoing softly through the neighborhood. It was just a simple gathering, four young men escaping the pressures of life for a night with beer and conversation.
When Brandon became completely drunk, his speech slurred and his eyes wandered even more than usual. He began talking about how hard his life was, that he couldn't find a wife or even a girlfriend no matter how hard he tried. Women avoided him because of his eyes, and it hurt more than he wanted to admit.
His friends listened, but none of them had any solution. They all carried their own burdens and limitations. Like Brandon, they believed that money could change everything. In their experience, even average men became attractive if they were rich and that was the sad truth they all silently acknowledged.