Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 61
"So, um... is that Karlos's older brother? They look alike." Montoya squinted slightly as he compared the features of Karlos and Roman, noticing the resemblance.
He asked Maya while he and Franco began surveying the land, carefully measuring distances and taking mental notes about the topography.
"I don't think so. My husband is handsome. They don't look alike at all." Maya gave Montoya a 'are you alright?' look. Her tone carried a mix of amusement, as if she found the question ridiculous.
Maya had met Montoya a few times when his team renovated the shop, so they were familiar with each other.
"..."
Montoya was left speechless. He blinked, unsure whether he should say more. Everyone could see the resemblance between Karlos and Roman, especially after Roman removed his sunglasses, revealing deep blue eyes that reflected a calm expression.
"Ma'am, your land is 300 square meters, correct?" Franco asked Maya.
"That's right, I inherited it from my parents." She brushed her hand over the corner of the fence, her thoughts drifting to the memories her family had made here. Her parents once planted crops on this very soil.
"So what size do you want your house to be?"
"At least 150 square meters, but I want walking space on either the left or right side of the plot. Is that possible?" She gestured with her hands, picturing herself walking freely, her children running, and a small garden thriving beside the house.
"Absolutely. The land is already flat, so it'll be much easier to start building. Now, I have a few house designs here. Would you mind telling me what you want?"
"... What's the cheapest?" Of course, Maya would ask that. Her practical side always came out when it came to expenses, especially for a project this big and important.
Franco wasn't surprised, this was a common reaction.
"The cheapest is 1.4 million pesos, but that quotation depends on the materials. And from what I see, you'll probably want a sturdier fence instead of old wood, am I right?"
"If it's within budget, yes." Maya nodded, adjusting the folder in her hands. She flipped through the pages quickly, her eyes scanning for anything too flashy or costly.
"Well then, here are some designs with low quotations," Franco said.
Maya flipped through the pages curiously. Some designs caught her attention, and her eyes lingered on a layout with a cozy front porch and plenty of space for plants.
......
...
...
"So why are you here? Don't tell me you actually want a refund," Karlos asked Roman with a judging look.
"Do I look desperate for money to be asking for a refund?"
"I don't know, you tell me."
"Of course not."
"So what's the real reason you're here then? And who's this guy?"
Karlos glanced at the other man in a baseball cap and sunglasses. He looked cautious, as if hiding his identity, making Karlos wonder if he should be wary.
"He's the reason I came. He's been looking for you," Roman explained.
The man removed his cap and sunglasses before introducing himself.
"I'm Larry Araneto," he said. His light orange hair and blue eyes made him stand out.
"Wait a minute, you're the guy I saved when you were stranded in the middle of the sea." Karlos was shocked. He hadn't expected to meet him today. He had only saved him out of goodwill, never expecting anything in return, especially from someone who seemed dubious.
"I want to thank you for that," Larry said, slightly lowering his head. His tone carried genuine sincerity.
"I see. So you're here to express gratitude. Don't worry about it, I saved you because it was the right thing to do."
"I know. I was hoping you'd return to the island so I could thank you properly, but it seems you're not asking for a reward," Larry said with a small chuckle.
"Nah, it's alright. You don't have to give me money."
Karlos wasn't the type to expect goodwill, especially from strangers. Even his own family in Maynila had never expressed appreciation for what he did for them, so he had little tolerance for expecting kindness from outsiders.
Larry found that admirable. He grew up in an environment where everyone around him always wanted something. Karlos's attitude was refreshing.
"So, you guys know each other?" Karlos asked.
"We're cousins," Roman replied.
"I see."
"Looks like you're busy? What's with the surveyor?" Roman changed the subject, looking at Maya as she spoke with Montoya and Franco while flipping through the folders.
"We're thinking of building a proper house," Karlos explained.
"Yeah, you really need to do that. I can't believe you're living in this small bamboo shed. Look at your kids watching us curiously, I can't fathom how they'll grow up in a place this small. That would be disastrous." Roman scrutinized the kubo. Its bamboo walls were thin, the roof fragile, and the floor creaked when stepped on. His bathroom was thrice bigger than the entire kubo.
'Well, sorry, mister rich guy. We don't have money to build a house,' Karlos wanted to say that out loud.
"How much does building a house even cost?" Larry asked.
"The engineer said at least 1.4 million pesos."
"That's it?"
"I thought it would be more expensive. Just 1.4 million pesos?" Both Roman and Larry were surprised at how cheap it sounded.
"... "
Karlos looked at the two rich men with disgust.
"You guys have no idea how expensive 1.4 million is."
"Of course I know. That was my monthly allowance in high school," Roman said, and Larry nodded in agreement.
Karlos realized they lived in a completely different world. There was no point in explaining how ordinary people lived.
"Anyway, if you're just here to say thanks, that's fine. I'm not expecting anything in return. I'm just glad you're alive," Karlos said.
'Also, the fact that you're wearing a cap and sunglasses to hide your face shows that something is wrong with you,' Karlos thought as he glanced at Larry. There was something about his stance that radiated caution.
"Babe, I think this design would be perfect for our house. What do you think?" Maya approached Karlos, showing him a layout. It was an L-shaped house with space for a garden, one of the reasons she liked it.
"It looks great. Then let's go with this," Karlos smiled. Anything for his wife.
"This design isn't complex, but it'll cost at least 2 million pesos. You'll also need to find a place to live for about six months while construction is ongoing. It'll be noisy all day," Engineer Montoya explained.
"2 million pesos?"
The couple smiled bitterly. Their savings barely exceeded that amount. They exchanged a glance filled with both anxiety and determination, already imagining the sacrifices ahead.
"Looks like we really have to sell the pearls," Maya said, and Karlos nodded.
"We'll also need to find somewhere to live for six months," Karlos added.
"I have a solution for that," Larry said with a grin.
Everyone turned to him, waiting for his answer.