Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 122
In their tradition, a priest must baptize children once they turn one year old. It was considered a sacred milestone, marking the child's official welcome into the faith, a symbolic step meant to bring spiritual protection and blessings.
Instead of going to the church, however, in their county, parents would invite the priest to their home to perform the baptism. It felt more personal and festive that way, surrounded by family and neighbors.
When the couple left the room, the annex area was already prepared with tables and chairs neatly arranged in rows, leaving enough space for people to move around comfortably. The food section and utensils were also set up and ready. The aroma of freshly cooked dishes filled the air, blending with the faint scent of flowers placed as decorations on each table.
Soon after, the second batch of guests arrived. They were Karlos's friends and their families, showing up almost all at once. Brandon, Andres, Domingo, Jerry, and their families came, some carrying gifts. Their laughter and chatter instantly brought life to the atmosphere.
Just as Jerry had promised, he didn't bring his younger brother. As for Domingo's parents, they were present as well. His mother even had a couple of plastic bags tucked into her pockets. She inspected the food prepared for the party and grew visibly pleased when she saw how plentiful it was and how delicious everything looked. Her face lit up with genuine satisfaction as she quietly planned which dishes she would take home later.
However, what truly shocked everyone was how magnificent the villa was, far beyond what they had imagined. The elegant white walls, the wide annex, and the neatly pruned garden gave off a strong sense of luxury.
"When you said you were living in a villa, I didn't expect something like this," Domingo said as he looked around. His mouth was slightly open in awe. This wasn't just rich, it was rich-rich.
"A friend invited me to live here," Karlos replied simply. He didn't explain further, offering only a faint smile to avoid drawing too much attention.
"Be honest with me. Are you sure you're not from a rich family?" Jerry asked. He spoke half-jokingly, but his eyes were filled with curiosity. He remembered the gossip about a sports car parked in front of Karlos's kubo, and how people in the neighborhood believed it belonged to his relatives. They had even seen two well-dressed men talking to Karlos, which became quite the topic back then.
"Do I look like a rich person to you?" Karlos chuckled, shaking his head.
"If we didn't know your story, we might think so. You have fair skin, you're tall, and you don't look poor at all," Andres said teasingly, raising an eyebrow.
"If I hadn't worked with you fishing, I might believe you're from a rich family too," Brandon added with a laugh, giving Karlos a friendly pat on the back.
The men continued chatting as more guests arrived, gradually filling the annex. Their conversation shifted from jokes to lighthearted stories. Maya firmly reminded Karlos that there would be no alcohol at the party. She crossed her arms and gave him a serious look. Today was for the children, not for the adults to drink and have fun. Her tone left no room for argument, and Karlos could only smile helplessly.
Meanwhile, the children played as they waited for the baptism to begin. Their giggles echoed throughout the annex as they chased each other and played with small toys. Some of them glanced longingly at the swimming pool, but none dared to go in. The clear blue water shimmered invitingly under the sunlight, yet they knew their parents would scold them if they caused trouble.
To them, the swimming pool felt more exciting than the sea. At least the pool looked elegant, clean, and calm. They had grown tired of swimming in the ocean.
No one dared to enter the main house. Everyone stayed within the annex, which had become the heart of the celebration. All the rooms were locked anyway, leaving only access to the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Even then, the guests remained careful and respectful, mindful of the beautiful home they were in.
The third group to arrive consisted of Engineer Montoya, Franco, and the others.
The fourth group was made up of Maya's college friends. Although adulthood had separated them and given each of them their own lives, they still considered one another friends. Maya occasionally visited them or sent letters to keep in touch.
The three women squealed as they spotted Maya and rushed over to hug her tightly.
"Maya!"
"Luz, Vin, Minda!"
Maya smiled warmly and hugged them back, feeling a wave of nostalgia. They were acting like playful young women again.
"The others couldn't attend because they're in other cities," one of them said apologetically.
"It's alright. I'm already happy that you're here," Maya replied sincerely.
They giggled and settled at a table, immediately diving into gossip. They talked about their former classmates and shared updates about their lives.
All of them had graduated with education degrees. Luz and Vin worked at private schools, while Minda had been hired as an English teacher at a public school. Overall, they had stable careers and were working in the fields they had studied.
"You know Laura? She went overseas and married a man from Burger country. I heard she struck it rich."
"Good for her," Maya replied without envy.
"Maya, you didn't tell us you were living in such a nice place. So tell me, did Karlos win the lottery or something?"
They knew about Karlos. Back in their final months of college, he had been quite a sight, the poor but handsome man who waited outside their school just to see someone.
"This villa isn't ours. We're just renting it," Maya explained. "Karlos has a good friend who let us stay here while our house is under construction."
She didn't elaborate further, especially about the fact that they weren't paying rent. It would have been too troublesome to explain.
"So Karlos has a rich friend?"
"Let's not talk about that. You already have money to build a house? I thought Karlos was just a fisherman?"
Maya sensed something behind Luz's words, but she only smiled and nodded.
"My husband has earned quite a lot these past few months," Maya replied calmly, once again keeping her explanation vague.
Luz fell silent, momentarily stunned. She wasn't sure whether Maya was telling the truth or not. The main reason Luz had come today was to see Maya's situation, driven by comparison.
Luz had always been smarter than Maya. She had better grades and believed her future held greater potential, at least in her own eyes. She attended today hoping to confirm that her life was better than Maya's and to seek validation for herself.
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[Thank you for reading this novel.]