RDD 33

Chapter 33




December 23, 1999


The day came in and Penelope and I woke up early. Thankfully, Penelope's face looked better after a night of sleep. 


"Good morning Honey."


"Good morning."


We greeted each other with the usual 'good morning' and sat up. We both checked the kids and realized that they were still sleeping. 


"How about coffee? I can ask Corazon and Alberto for coffee."


"I want to eat rice coffee."


"That bitter drink? You want to drink it?" I was shocked as I knew the taste of that coffee. It tasted like charcoal rice, bitter. 


"Hm."


It was worrying that my wife missed that coffee. The last time I drank it, I almost gagged. 


"... Okay." My lips twitched as I answered. Why do I feel scared? It's just a coffee. 


I steeled my heart and followed my wife to the kitchen.


We realized that we were not the only ones who woke up early. Most of Penelope's relatives were awake and eating breakfast, right at 5 am in the morning. The sun was still not shining but they were already eating. As expected of people from the province, they wake up early. 


'Or perhaps they wake up early because today is the day when they will get a bunch of money.'


December 23 was the day that Corazon and Alberto would officially sell their land. They would sign in the Village Hall and the village captain was the witness. 


"You guys are awake."


"Do you want coffee?"


Alberto offered us a single pack of Nescafe for us. This coffee product was the most selling coffee in our country. 


'Nestle was really booming in the early 2000s.' 


"Father, do you have rice coffee? I miss that coffee."


"Yeah, we have it. You can blend your own. The thermos was filled with hot water, you can use it."


"What about you Honey?"


"I'm good with Nesface," I answered honestly. Rice coffee was too strong for me, even if I pour a spoonful of sugar into it. 


"All of us will go to the Village Hall. We will meet the buyer there and settle the account." Corazon announced and everyone listened. After all, it was about money. 


Even Señorita was behaving well next to her husband. She was glaring at Penelope a few times but she didn't cause any problem. 


"Father and Mother talked to Señorita last night, that's why she is keeping her mouth shut. I don't know what they talked about but Señorita calms down at least."


Simeon explained to me and I nodded. It was better this way. As long as nothing bad happened, then Penelope and I would be at peace. 


"Honey, can you look at the kids later?" Penelope said to me after she took a sip of the bitter coffee. 


"I will."


Just to be sure, I decided to stay in the house. Someone needed to take care of the kids. I trust my wife and I knew that she won't be bullied. She would fight back. Her parents would protect her too. 


'The only variable is Señorita but she understands the consequences if she ran amok.'


The kids woke up later. As always, Sophia would always look for her every time she woke up. 


"Mommy~? Mommy, where?"


"Mommy's here." Penelope touched her little hand and gently shook it.n


"Hehe."


Sophia giggled and kicked her feet in the air, excited and happy. 


"As always, my cute daughter is the best."


"Yay!"


The mother and child cuddled early in the morning. 


"Roman, there's bread and fresh milk."


"Thanks, Dad... Wait Dad, the milk, is it that 'fresh' milk...?"


Roman glanced at me reluctantly.


"Hey, don't be like that. This milk came from the cows. Don't worry, we boiled it." 


"That's not the problem. I don't the like the taste of fresh milk."


"Well, I recommend you add sugar to make it sweet. It's a good thing that your mother already prepared sugar for you guys. She knows that you will not drink it if doesn't taste good."


"Thanks Mom."


"Honey, feed Sophia for me. I have to change clothes." 


The room didn't have a bath but there was a small compartment where a person could change clothes. 


"Okay."


I sat down next to Sophia and started feeding her. I soaked the bread in milk and used the spoon to feed her. 


"Sophia, say ah."


"Ah-- nom nom nom. Yummy!"


She greedily devoured the bread and chewed it. The bread was already soft so it wasn't a problem for Sophia to chew it. If she could not chew it, she could drink milk instead. 


I smiled when I laughed that her lips got milk on. 


"Sweetheart, stay still, let me wipe your lips."


"En."


"Roman, don't play with your toys, clean your face first. Your eyes still have gound. Come, I'll take you out." 


These two were really active after eating. 


"... Okay."


This house didn't have water. Instead, we have to go outside and take water from the old water pump. 


'That's right, the water pump where you have to push down the lever to get water. It takes strength and stamina to use it.'


Roman carried a basin while I carried Sophia. 


"Roman, take a look at your sister while I'm getting water."


Pumping water was strenuous and almost an exercise. 


"Huck--!!"


I pushed down and the water came out a few seconds later... It didn't even fill one-tenth of the basin. So of course I had to push it down again. 


I kept repeating this process till we had enough for the kids to wash their faces. I was breathing unevenly when it was over. 


"Sophia, don't dabble the water, you're going to waste it." 


"Dad, wash me please~"


I don't have a choice, I have to fulfill my princess's wish. I gently cleaned her face, particularly her eyes where eye gunks were present. 


"What about you Roman? Do you want my help?"


"Dad, I'm already big. You don't have to."


"... Okay."


This kid, it seemed that he didn't me to wash his face.