Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 120
The six adults in the villa worked together to prepare dishes for the party. Karlos and Foster were responsible for the heavy work, such as carrying large pots, trays, sacks of rice, and more, while the three maids and Maya cooked dishes in the spacious, fragrant kitchen, filled with the sound of sizzling oil and the rhythmic chopping of vegetables. The men also set up a cooking stove outside the house.
All the expenses came from Karlos and Maya, and they made sure to prepare hearty meals for the party, food meant to leave everyone full and satisfied. The money was well spent, especially since today was the twins' first birthday. Arabella and Iñigo were officially one year old as of today, a fact that filled the couple with emotion, although the two little kids were still sleeping and had no idea what a birthday meant, nor the attention waiting for them.
Colorful balloons were tied to the railings and taped to the walls, and ribbons fluttered around the surroundings, adding splashes of color.
"Larry and the others eat local cuisine, right?" Maya asked Mrs. Wanda, seeking reassurance. Her tone was hesitant, her brows slightly furrowed as she sliced vegetables. She was not sure if rich people would appreciate normal food made with familiar ingredients.
"Of course, they will eat them," Mrs. Wanda chuckled, amused by the concern. Her laughter was genuine. Rich people were not some kind of alien with different palates, despite common assumptions.
They might prefer expensive meals such as lobsters and steaks, but they would also eat normal dishes such as chicken stew, adobo, and lumpia.
By the way, lumpia was the first dish that quickly disappeared at parties without fail. In their country, lumpia would always be present at parties and fiestas, and people of all ages loved it.
So Maya made sure to cook a lot of lumpia for this day, anticipating the demand. Lumpia was a fried roll filled with ground meat, carrots, and other stuffing depending on the available ingredients.
Around 5 a.m., the first people to arrive were Joseph and his family. They had promised to help with the preparations, and they kept their word. They brought gifts and a cake for the birthday celebrants. The gifts were nothing grand, just simple clothes for the twins, matching outfits for them. Penelope carried the cake carefully while Joseph held a bag of wrapped presents, both smiling as they were greeted by the morning bustle in the kitchen.
"You bought a lot of stuff. Are you sure everything will be eaten? Some of it might spoil," Joseph asked Karlos. He eyed the large table covered with dishes and ingredients with a mix of amusement and worry.
"We can give the guests food to take home," Maya assured her brother. Her lips curving into a knowing smile.
People loved taking food from fiestas and parties to bring back to their families. There were even cases where people would prepare plastic bags for the occasion, ready to ransack food, something completely normal in their country. Maya giggled at the thought, shaking her head as she remembered family gatherings from her childhood filled with laughter.
"Let me help you cut the garlic and onions," Penelope said, rolling up her sleeves as she joined in. She helped Maya with the chopping so things would be finished faster.
Joseph helped as well. There was a makeshift stove in the garden to cook fried chicken. Because they had a lot to prepare, the men built a primitive stove using rocks and firewood, enough to support a large frying pan. However, this kind of stove needed constant supervision to maintain the fire. The smell of smoke and sizzling oil gave the morning air a festive feel.
Karlos, Foster, and Joseph worked on frying chicken. Karlos adjusted the fire by removing a piece of wood to weaken the flames. Foster focused on frying the chicken, while Joseph used ready-mix breading to coat the meat with a batter.
While the adults were busy, Gavin and Venus had nothing to do. They explored the villa with curiosity, their small footsteps echoing on the marble floor. Still, they didn't dare enter the rooms and respected boundaries. Most of the time, they stayed in the annex and wandered around the pool area.
The two kids actually wanted to swim in the pool, tempted by the water. However, their mother, Penelope, had lectured them before coming to the villa and set strict rules. They were there to celebrate their cousins' birthday, not to swim and get dirty.
So they could only stare at the pool longingly. The clear blue water shimmered under the early sunlight.
After exploring the villa for the third time, Venus couldn't take it anymore and headed to the kitchen.
"Auntie, where are Arabella and Iñigo? Are they still sleeping?"
"Let me check," Maya replied, wiping her hands with a towel before glancing at the clock. She realized it was already 6:30 a.m. Most of the dishes were already cooked, and they had made good progress.
She went to the room, followed by Venus and Gavin, who still had nothing to do.
When Maya opened the door, she smiled at the sight of the twins sleeping peacefully. They were tucked under the bedsheet, looking extremely adorable. Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, making the scene heavenly.
Venus and Gavin approached quietly. Their cousins were really cute. They exchanged delighted looks, suppressing the urge to pinch the babies' chubby cheeks. A little girl and a little boy, melting their hearts instantly.
Just as Maya was about to return to the kitchen, Arabella, who had a strong sense of smell, suddenly caught the scent of food lingering on Maya's hands.
She groggily woke up, still half asleep, but food was something that always made her happy, no exception.
"Mama..." Arabella said sleepily, her voice soft as her eyelids fluttered open.
"Foohd."
Maya was speechless and caught completely off guard.
"Early in the morning, and you're already looking for food?"
"Hm." Arabella nodded weakly.
"Don't tell me you woke up because you smelled food?"
"Hm." Arabella nodded again.
Maya couldn't help but laugh. She scooped up the little girl, who was still drowsy. Arabella's small arms instinctively wrapped around Maya's neck as she buried her face against her mother's shoulder, seeking warmth.
"You're really a glutton, do you know that? All you ever want is food, food, and food."
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