Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 208
Karlos and Maya watched a new telenovela together. The story revolved around two childhood friends who were separated at a young age and unexpectedly reunited as adults. It wasn't overly dramatic, but it was a sweet, lighthearted story.
The twins also watched the show, though they didn't really appreciate the plot, they preferred children's programs with bright colors and cartoons. Still, since they had monopolized the television all morning, they understood that nighttime belonged to their parents.
Arabella and Iñigo each held a couple of chicken nuggets in their small hands. Maya had kept her promise to fry nuggets for Arabella, feeling sad that the little girl had tripped over and scraped her knees earlier. Maya made sure both children received equal portions.
While watching the telenovela, a thought crossed Maya's mind.
"Babe, did you ever have childhood friends in Maynila?"
"Yes, I had a few friends back there," Karlos answered, recalling a few faces from his past.
"I see... Did you ever have a close female friend?"
"Yeah, I think I already told you about her," he replied naturally, sensing nothing out of the ordinary.
"Her name is Nanette, right?" Of course Maya hadn't forgotten. She had asked Karlos about his former acquaintances before and had heard Nanette's name mentioned a few times. Karlos and this woman seemed to have been quite close.
"Yeah, she's a childhood friend."
"..."
Maya leaned over and rested her head gently against his shoulder. It didn't matter if they were childhood friends or not, Karlos was married to her now, and their bond was forever.
Suddenly, the telenovela didn't seem as interesting anymore. She decided to switch the channel and let the children pick what to watch instead.
...
...
...
"Oh, Janice, you're back!?" Carmine exclaimed in surprise upon bumping into Janice. Carmine had just finished buying ingredients for dinner and was heading home when she ran into the young woman.
"Yes, Auntie. I'm here for a week-long vacation," Janice greeted her warmly.
"I see, I see! I heard you landed a wonderful job up in Maynila. What was it again, a corporate job?"
"Auntie," Janice chuckled, "I'm a teacher."
"Oh, right! Your mother mentioned that you're working at a prestigious institution. Is that true?"
"Yes, St. Magnolia University is a very famous institution in our country," Janice explained proudly. She was a kindergarten teacher at the school.
"I feel like I've heard of it before. It sounds very fancy!"
"Indeed." Janice nodded in agreement.
"So is it true that you earn 50,000 pesos a month? You really struck gold! Janice, you're so fortunate."
"Hehe." Janice offered a modest giggle... though she couldn't bring herself to explain that the rumor wasn't entirely accurate.
'I can't believe Mom went around spreading that,' Janice thought to herself.
Janice had simply mentioned to her parents that the salary range for her position went from 25,000 to 50,000 pesos, but she was still receiving the entry-level rate of 25,000 pesos. While that was certainly better than what public school teachers made, it was hardly an extravagant fortune.
Her mother, eager to brag about her daughter's achievements, had embellished the news to make it sound like Janice was already pulling in 50,000 pesos every month.
'50,000 pesos? If I actually made that much, I could afford to rent a proper apartment in Maynila.'
Living expenses in the capital were steep compared to the province, and Janice often felt like 25,000 pesos was barely enough to make a real difference in her lifestyle.
"I knew ever since you were young that you were destined for great things... Oh, by the way, are you still single? What perfect timing! My son, Brandon, is single too. Why don't you two try going on a date? You've known each other since childhood, and my son is such a good man." Carmine was constantly worried that her son would end up alone, so she strike an offer.
"Auntie..." Janice maintained her polite smile, though she felt inwardly insulted by the suggestion.
'Your cross-eyed son? Hell no. He's unattractive and dark-skinned. I want my future children to have fair skin. Do you have any idea how hard I work to keep my skin white? I have to use expensive lotions just to protect my complexion!' she scoffed internally.
"Auntie, let's catch up later. I actually have an errand to run," Janice interrupted smoothly, knowing how persistent Carmine could be and fearing the woman might actually try to set her up on a date with Brandon.
"Oh? Where are you headed?"
"I heard that Maya and Karlos got married. I wanted to drop by and see them." Janice bid her farewell and continued down the road.
"...Eh?" Carmine paused as a sudden thought struck her. She recalled the old rumors that Janice and Karlos used to have a bit of a fling back in the day.
"Could it be...?"
...
...
...
Janice walked along the neighborhood street, exchanging polite nods with passing neighbors. The beachside area had undergone notable developments, though certain familiar spots remained unchanged.
"Hm? Gustavo is selling ice now?"
As she walked, she passed by the ice shop Gustavo operated. Even though it was a Sunday, several fishermen were out working to earn their daily keep. The Ocean Church was a widely respected religion in the region, but that didn't mean every resident adhered strictly to its doctrines. In fact, some fishermen didn't follow the Ocean Church at all, preferring to worship the God of Business or the God of the Sun.
Janice continued further along the path until she arrived at Maya's address. It had been four years since she last visited. Back then, Maya's property was nothing more than an open lot with a modest vegetable patch. Maya used to visit the garden every other day after her college classes, which was when the two of them would occasionally travel down to the beachside together.
They hadn't been best friends, but they had shared plenty of pleasant conversations over the years.
"Eh?"
Janice froze in her tracks the moment she reached the gate. The place was entirely unrecognizable from what she remembered.
Instead of an overgrown plot of land and vegetables, a beautiful, well-constructed concrete house stood on the property. What's more, a brand-new tricycle was parked neatly under the shed.
"Did I get the wrong address?" she murmured to herself. But her answer arrived almost instantly.
"Papa, up, up! Superman!" Iñigo giggled as Karlos lifted him high into the air. Maya and Arabella followed close behind the father and son. The little girl was pouting slightly because it was Iñigo's turn to be carried.
"Sweetie, Papa carried you all the way to church earlier. It's Iñigo's turn now," Maya said gently, pressing a kiss to Arabella's chubby cheek.
Janice stood frozen as she witnessed the warm, joyful family scene. She couldn't utter a single word...
"Hm?" Iñigo was the first to notice someone standing outside their gate.
"Papa, who's dat?"
Karlos looked and spotted the woman standing by the entrance.
"Is that you, Janice?" Karlos asked, quite surprised to see her.
"Y-Yeah. It's good to see you again, Karlos," Janice said, forcing a tight smile onto her face.
[Thank you for reading this novel.]