Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 114
"Of course, we will be there. Make sure to prepare a variety of expensive and delicious dishes. We're going to eat a lot." The old woman grinned, although most of her front teeth were missing. She was already planning to bring a plastic bag to snatch some food.
"Haha." Karlos just laughed and left. Actually, he didn't want to invite Domingo's parents because Domingo's mother, in particular, was troublesome. She was known for complaining endlessly, criticizing food portions, gossiping loudly, and imposing her opinions on others. But he didn't want to appear unkind, so he invited them anyway, even if it meant minor annoyance later.
Karlos tapped his shorts and confirmed that the money in his inner pocket was safe and sound.
With that, his last destination for the day was Jerry's two-storey house. A modest but well-maintained place that reflected a steady income.
Unlike Domingo and Brandon, who were still living with their parents, Jerry already had his own house. His father owned a rice shop and had built the house for Jerry when he got married.
Jerry was casually smoking when he noticed Karlos.
"Hey, Karlos! We rarely see you these days. So when are you going to invite me to the villa?" he teased. The last time they had a drinking session, Karlos had mentioned that his family was currently living in a villa.
"That's why I'm here," Karlos shrugged.
"So you're done taking care of the shop?" Karlos asked.
"That's right. I usually stay there from morning until noon, then my parents take the later shift," Jerry explained while relaxing and smoking.
Jerry had two brothers, and as the oldest, expectations naturally rested on his shoulders. He worked under his father selling rice and earned wages. Despite the repetitive labor, he never complained. Since it was a family business, Jerry took it seriously and maintained good relationships with customers.
"I saw your younger brother at the beach earlier."
When Jerry heard that, his expression darkened.
"So what did that bastard do this time?"
Jerry had two younger brothers. The middle child was Bastos, who didn't finish high school and had no plans in life, drifting aimlessly without responsibility. While the youngest was still in Grade 6, innocent and full of potential.
"Nothing. Bastos just said something to Tenorio and Juan."
Karlos explained what happened at the beach earlier, and Jerry shook his head in disappointment.
"That guy..." Jerry sighed, feeling frustrated and helpless.
Although Jerry didn't achieve much in life, he at least graduated from high school before deciding to help with the family business, a choice he sometimes questioned.
But Bastos was different. He had better circumstances, yet chose to remain jobless.
He would return home only when he was hungry, then leave again and disappear for most of the day, never explaining where he went or what he did. All he did was eat, sleep, play with friends, and shit. He contributed nothing to the household.
Jerry was deeply disappointed with his brother.
'We have money to send him to college, but he doesn't want to. He said school is not for him...'
Jerry recalled that those were the exact same words he had said to his parents after graduating from high school. His feelings about it were complicated. He did regret not going to college, but he also knew that the time and effort he devoted to the family business were the reason their rice shop had been doing well over the past few years.
He hoped his youngest brother would have the aptitude for college. As Jerry grew older, he realized that education was important, not just for money, but for options and dignity.
He thought of his children. They must finish college no matter what. Just like Tenorio, Jerry wanted the best for his children and hoped they could change their lives through education. He would do everything in his power to make sure they received a good education.
"Well then, my twins' birthday will be on January 20. You and your family are invited. You can bring your parents too."
"Nah, I'll just bring my wife and kids. If I bring my parents, Bastos will probably come along, and I don't want that boy causing trouble. By the way, I'm a godfather, right?"
"Make sure to bring something expensive," Karlos joked.
"This guy... Is a birthday cake enough?"
"Now we're talking."
The two laughed.
After talking with Jerry about the twins' birthday, Karlos left the neighborhood. His mission for the day was complete.
When he returned to the beach, the teenagers were gambling small amounts of money, laughing and holding cards. They were loitering without purpose. Karlos also saw a few people collecting seashells along the shore, digging through the sand for food. Others were swimming happily in the water.
A few years ago, Karlos had also scavenged for seashells because life was tough. But now that his livelihood had improved, he had lost interest in digging through sand for edible seashells. It was tiring and time-consuming. He would rather spend that time on more productive things.
He left the beach and returned to Bay Harbor. People greeted him with more respect this time. Some were curious about his connections to wealthy individuals, but Karlos usually kept quiet about his life. Even so, public opinion of him had improved. More people in Bay Harbor respected and acknowledged him now.
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Sunday, January 18, 2001.
Karlos and his family had just returned from Ocean Church. The twins were happy because their parents bought them a box of donuts again, a small ritual they eagerly looked forward to. Arabella, in particular, excitedly called out to her mother for donuts.
"Mama, donat!"
"It's donut."
"Donat!"
Of course, Maya fulfilled her daughter's wish and handed Arabella a donut. She also gave Iñigo one, treating them equally.
While Maya was busy taking care of the twins, Karlos went to the garage to change the engine oil, a maintenance task he performed every month. He also inspected the engine carefully, making sure everything was in proper working condition.
After finishing the oil change, he cleaned the engine, removing dirt, grease, and salt buildup. Corrosion was a silent enemy.
An engine required regular maintenance to function well. Karlos understood this clearly, his livelihood depended on it. He never wanted to experience being stranded in the middle of the sea again due to engine failure. That nightmare was something he didn't wish to relive.
Because cleaning the engine was a dirty job, he always asked his wife to watch the children and made sure they stayed far from his workspace.
Karlos grabbed a used towel and wiped the grease from his hands. He looked at the clean engine and nodded in satisfaction. Then he wiped the sweat from his face using his shoulder, since his hands were still dirty.
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[This novel has 56 chapters on Patreon.]