RDD 52

Chapter 52

Life in the province was simple and fulfilling, although there were few things to do. 

Most of the time, Penelope and I would help my in-laws in their new business voyage. 

Coops of the chickens and ducks were completed after 5 days. There were barriers too so it was hard for them to escape. Furthermore, the family had three dogs to guard the place. 

11:30 in the morning. We were hearing some trumpet here and there. Sometimes, there were people who would shoot firecrackers.

"Roman, you are getting tanned."

"Hm." 

Penelope sighed as she looked at her son. Roman's milky white skin was getting darker. Of course her heart aches, she wanted her son to be handsome as always. 

'In our country, whiter means more beautiful. Darker means ugly.' 

So Penelope wanted Roman to stay white... Ahem, it might sound racist, but that's how it works in my country. So please forgive me and my wife. It was hard to fight the majority, we're just going with the flow-- the whiter, the better... Damn it, I'm looking like a racist right now. I swear, I'm not. 

"Mom, I want to swim in the river again." Roman might be quiet most of the time, but he was vocal whenever he needed something. 

"No can do. You already swam yesterday. If you want to swim again, you have to meet my chancla. Do you want the imprints of my flip-flop on your butt?"

"..."

In the end, Roman sighed and approached me in defeat. 

'Son, if you're going to ask for help, you know that I can't help you. I'm afraid of your mother too. Even if I'm right, then your mother is always right. Even if I'm wrong, you're mother is always right.'

"Dad, can I play with your phone?"

"..."

It was a relief to know that my son would never pull me into the quagmire. 

"Here." I gave my phone to him and let him play. 

"Roman, stop holding your father's phone and sleep instead. It's New Year's Eve later and you will fall asleep if you don't take a rest now!" 

With a deep and angry voice, Penelope glared at Roman. She was currently fanning Sophia who was sleeping. 

Because it was New Year's Eve, Penelope wanted the kids to sleep so that they would welcome the New Year with vigor. 

There was a tradition in the Philippines that if you jumped at New Year, you will have a healthy year and you will grow taller. 

But of course, if the kids were too sleepy, Penelope would never force them to stay up all night. 

"..."

With defeat, Roman returned the phone to me and slumped down on the wooden bed. There was no mattress for us, only little Sophia had the privilege to use a soft bed. 

I glanced at my wife who was fanning Sophia. 

"What are you looking at? Go to sleep."

"Yes."

It seemed that she was a bit irritated... It was not her time of the month, so it was kinda odd. 

Anyway, because I didn't have anything to do, I decided to sleep.

Later, we have another bunch of chicken to roast. 

"Jajjy! Jajjy! Wake up!"

I weakly opened my eyes when I heard the soft voice of my daughter. 

"Hm? What's wrong sweetheart?"

I rubbed my eyes and glanced at Sophia who was almost over my chest. 

"Jajjy! Look! I have a cowowing bwook!"

"Huh?"

What does that mean? My eyes gradually focused on the thing that Sophia was holding. 

"Ah, you have a coloring book, sweetheart?"

"Yesh!"

I rubbed her head and she giggled as she turned the pages. The coloring book was that of disney princesses, such as Cinderella and Snow White. 

"Wow! So bweautiful!"

Sophia happily looked at every picture. 

"Sweetheart, these are nothing but pictures. They are not real. I believe your mother is far more beautiful than these fakes."

"What did you say?" I suddenly heard my wife's voice and I stiffened. 

"Nothing much, Honey. I just said that you are far more beautiful than these unrealistic princesses of Disney."

"... Here."

I sighed when she didn't reply anything bad. In fact, she was slightly blushing. 

"What's this?"

"Just open it."

I was confused when she gave me a box. Then, I realized that my wife bought me a Nike: Air Force One.

"Honey?" I was stunned. 

"I saw you looking at these shoes when we went to the city last time. So I decided to buy it for you."

"..."

Nike: Air Force One was a nice pair of shoes. I remembered that I have had three pairs of Nike: Air Force One in different colors in my past life.

To be honest, when we went to the city, I thought of buying the shoes. But I decided not to buy it. I feel like I should earn my own money before buying things for myself. 

"Thanks, Honey."

"E- Eh?"

I subconsciously hugged her intimately and kissed her forehead. She was dumbfounded for a second before pushing me away.

"Keith Castillo! Don't ever do that again!" She was gasping and flushing. 

"Hehe, sorry~"

I rubbed my head. 

When I looked at the other side of the room, I realized that Roman was holding a Rubik's cube.

I glanced at my wife.

"I bought him a toy that can increase his intelligence." She nodded. 

Now I realized why Sophia had a coloring book while Roman had a Rubik's cube. As expected of my wife, she already planned the best for the kids. 

"Are you sure he likes it?" 

If you're going to ask me, I prefer playing with Gundam than solve a Rubik's cube. 

"Can't you see? He's having fun."

I seriously looked at Roman and I realized that he was solving the Rubik's cube with utmost concentration. As if the Rubik's cube absorbed his mind and he had to solve it before he could escape. 

He probably inherited that mentality from Penelope and Grandpa. Once something caught his interest, he would focus all of his mind on it until he completely solved it.