Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 6
"I guess I have to return at another time," Karlos sighed in disappointment, scratching the back of his head.
He listened to what Mr. Kanor said with a long face and dejectedly turned around, as if his whole day had just been ruined.
"Pfft—haha! Look at you, kid. You look like you just lost your loved ones in some tragic drama or something. Are you really that excited to fix your boat?" Mr. Kanor laughed heartily, holding his stomach as his belly shook.
"Are you crazy? Of course I'm excited. How can I go back to sea and fish if the boat's broken? I need money. Besides, that boat was given to me by my brother-in-law. I'd look like an ungrateful idiot if I didn't take care of it."
"Fine, fine. No need to get mad or go all dramatic on me. I lied. The motor parts actually arrived yesterday, but you didn't drop by. We agreed you'd visit today, so technically it's your fault you didn't come earlier."
Mr. Kanor grinned mischievously and disappeared into the back room. He returned with a box stained with engine oil, carefully packed with motor parts.
"They cost 560 pesos. You already paid a 500-peso down payment last time, so you owe me 60 pesos. These parts aren't expensive, but they're hard to find because your boat is old."
"Here, count them."
Karlos pulled a 50-peso bill and a 10-peso coin from his pocket. Mr. Kanor didn't bother counting. One glance was enough.
"Thanks, Mr. Kanor."
"All good. You sure you don't want to hire me to fix your boat?"
"Nah, I can handle it. I've been maintaining the engine for over a year now. I know how it works down to the last screw."
Karlos had a complete set of tools that he'd acquired piece by piece, most of them old, but still reliable. There was no need to borrow from others.
"Suit yourself."
Karlos gave a polite nod and left, holding the box carefully. It wasn't heavy, but it was important. He had waited weeks for this, and he wasn't about to risk damaging it now.
He had no intention of going to the fish port. He had to return home immediately. Walking from the inner part of town to his house took nearly an hour under the blistering heat of the afternoon sun, which made his shirt stick to his back.
When Karlos arrived, Maya had already finished her chores. She was now lying beside the crib, reading a romance novel. The Kubo had bookshelves lined with her favorite novels, most of which she had read multiple times.
"I'll fix the boat tomorrow," Karlos said, kissing her forehead gently like a loving husband. He placed the box in the corner of the house, beside the tools he had already lined up in preparation.
"Well then," he smiled. "I'm gonna go fishing."
He excitedly left the house holding a fishing rod and a bucket.
"I'll bring back some fish later!"
Maya shook her head as she watched him run off like a little boy playing with his favorite toy.
"Is fishing really that fun?"
Maya had lived by the seaside all her life and had learned to fish from a young age. Yes, it was fun at first, but she eventually grew tired of it.
But Karlos was different. He always seemed genuinely happy and energized whenever he went fishing, like it gave him purpose. Maybe he truly loved it.
"I guess that's why he's not interested in looking for other jobs…" Maya sighed. Karlos had been a college student, and even without graduating, he probably could've landed a decent job thanks to his intelligence and charm.
She never pressured him to look for another job. Surprisingly, the money Karlos earned from fishing and trapping crabs was enough, sometimes even more than regular laborers. Maya never imagined fishing could be that rewarding.
In their region, people like Karlos, who always returned with a heavy catch, were called "Blessed by the Sea." It was a rare and respected title.
"I wonder what he'll bring back this time."
She returned to her novel, though a faint smile lingered on her lips. In a town with few entertainment options, reading had become her favorite hobby. Sometimes, she'd visit neighbors to watch TV shows, but she couldn't leave the twins for long. They were still too clingy and young.
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Meanwhile, Karlos walked toward the small beach near their home, carrying his fishing rod and bucket. It was just 200 meters away, and he passed by rows of coconut trees along the way.
The beach wasn't large, only about 150 meters long, and it didn't have the white sand that tourist spots were known for. Instead, their town's beach had black sand, formed from volcanic minerals over centuries.
It wasn't picturesque like the ones in magazines Maya sometimes read, but Karlos didn't care about the color of the sand. He just wanted to fish and forget the world for a while.
His bucket contained bait fish he had gotten from the fish port earlier, they were leftovers, too small or badly damaged to be sold.
The fishing rod he brought was from the city. He had begged Maya to buy it, promising he'd earn back the cost tenfold. Maya argued that they could just use a bamboo stick, but after his first bamboo rod snapped in half, she eventually gave in.
The rod cost 2,000 pesos, including accessories like hooks, lines, and sinkers. No wonder Maya hesitated.
But Karlos did the hard work so he felt he deserved at least one good tool. This rod could handle 15 to 30 kilograms of weight. Anything heavier, and it would meet the same fate as the bamboo stick.
So far, Karlos had treated it with the care of a prized possession, keeping it spotless and blemish-free.
After setting the bait, he cast the line with a strong swing, sending the hook flying as far as possible.
Some kids playing nearby saw him and came over, sand still clinging to their legs.
"Uncle Karlos! You're fishing today? We haven't seen you around for a few days."
"Yeah, I've been busy doing odd jobs at the pier."
"Pier? You mean the place where the cool-looking yachts are?"
"That's right."
"Cool!"
Karlos used his slippers as a seat so the black sand wouldn't dirty his faded shorts.
A few minutes later, the line jerked, something had taken the bait. Karlos grinned and stood up, excitement gleaming in his eyes. Judging by the pull, it might be the size of his arm… or even bigger if he was lucky.
"Uncle Karlos, you're so cool! You already caught a fish! My dad fishes too, but he always waits at least half an hour before catching anything!"
The kids watched eagerly as Karlos began reeling in, slow and steady, feeling the tension build in the line.