When Bitter Turned To Sweet

Saturday at 5:38 pm.

That was the exact time when Kobi looked at the wearing watch. He had been sitting on a cement chair in a corner in Quezon Park for more than two hours.

He is waiting for his girlfriend Vita because now is the schedule of their weekly date. They used to go out once a week to have enough time for each other that's why Kobi always makes sure that his wallet is full somehow because he doesn't want to embarrass his girlfriend. He always saves money before giving all the income to his mother for their family expenses. Kobi is a construction helper at Transco Commercial located in the central town.

One of Vita’s traits that he first noticed was her demanding attitude not only that, there is one worst thing about Vita is being a materialistic person but for Kobi it’s a small thing because when you love so much surely to endure everything. He believes that “love me at my worst, you deserve at my best”.

He also dated Vita for more than a year before he got the sweet "Yes". they were the same age at 17. They live in the same place, he courted Vita every day. They were also batch mates since elementary school at Quezon Elementary School and both also graduated from secondary school at Quezon National High School.

Kobi looked back for a long time so he didn't realize that his beautiful girlfriend had arrived. Yes! when it comes to physical appearance, Vita is beautiful, 'it has a similarity to the famous actress Bela Padilla.

"Hello, love" Vita greeted and touched Kobi’s lips.

"How's your day at school?" Kobi asked while smiling. He stroked his girlfriend's arm. Vita is currently attending college at Quezon State College of Technology with a Bachelor of Secondary Education course while Kobi didn’t continue studying in college as his father died early due to a car accident.

“I miss you, love hmmm---we haven't seen each other for a few days, I miss you so much. So, I really can't have no weekly dates because I might be crazy thinking of Miss Vita Cruz ”he whispered to his girlfriend while his lips teased Vita’s ear.

“Too much O.A as in overacting Mr. Kobi Castro” replied Vita who smiled at his girlfriend and smiled as if he was still flirting.

He noticed that his girlfriend slowly closed her eyes. That signaled that it seemed to like what he was doing. But he is not the type of man who can do something that he knows will exceed the limit because he believes that there is a right time for it. He doesn't want to be like his brother Henry who got married at an early age because the girl got pregnant. He always wanted to get married once he has fulfilled all the goals in life to give a good life to his own family. So, Kobi took the initiative to stop what he was doing instead of flirting with Vita.

“I love you so much, Miss Vita Cruz. I respect you so much.” Kobi’s sincere words, assuming that the girlfriend would get along but he was immediately frustrated by the answer that was far from what he expected.

"Why did you stop love?" Vita said with a complaining voice. Kobi didn't get immediately for what the girlfriend meant but he also realized the meaning Vita’s intention is to insert his palm into her chest and even caress it.

It was the peak season of those times so darkness was rampant around. They are complacent that no one will notice the intimate moments that are taking place.

Kobi stretched out from the seat because he was actually being carried away by the voltage of electricity brought by the palm of his girlfriend who was caressing the sensitive part of his body. Vita admitted to him from the very beginning of their relationship that he was not a first boyfriend while Vita was his first girlfriend. He accepts everything from her girlfriend because he loves her so much. Virginity is not important to him as long as he truly loves someone before he could completely forget, he removed Vita’s palm from his chest.

“Love, I love you so much that’s why I don’t want to take advantage of you as I believe there is a right time for each action,” Kobi said wholeheartedly

"But Kobi I really love doing this and you know everything about me before we had a romantic relationship," Vita said boldly while obviously getting irritated.

It seems that Vita is a spoiled girlfriend to Kobi. She is not ashamed of her boyfriend because she knows that anything else to do or say doesn't matter to Kobi. No matter what she said Kobi was always vowed. Kobi was spoiling her for everything she wants which she had really loved most.

“Love, there is a right time for everything. Not in a hurry love. I want that to happen only when God has a blessing of sacred marriage” Kobi’s voice was very gentle as he explained the point of view to Vita.

“Why you’re always saying that in fact, I’m not a virgin anymore so! what for, right? Sorry! to tell you Kobi, but I enjoyed those moments in my life. I really miss it.” Vita doesn’t care anymore. Kobi felt ashamed of his girlfriend's statement. He stared into Vita’s eye and let out a deep sigh.

“Love, please listen to me, I accept whatever your past is. I respect you and I don’t want to take advantage of every single day that we almost carried away. We have had a different personalities in the past. I have my own stand and principles for myself and most of all I have high respect for you and for our relationship.” Kobi is really the ideal man. He is very different. He is an endangered species. Kobi is blind because of too much love for Vita as he can no longer see the worst attitude of his girlfriend. Vita is blind also because she can't see Kobi’s best characteristics it’s indeed a one-in-a-million quality.

"Kobi you don't understand me," Vita replied angrily, stomping on both feet like a child who is grumbling.

"Love, what I don't understand as I already explained to you right?" Kobi felt frustrated. He couldn’t help but ask in his mind what did Vita really want to prove to him? It’s just sad to think that despite all he does for his girlfriend he doesn’t feel or feel even a little that he’s super proud of her. Instead, complaints and contempt for his ability are often heard. Instead of the encouragement, he should receive from his girlfriend, the opposite is true because it is pure discouragement to him. But maybe it's because of the great love that he is able to tolerate and understand everything about Vita.

“Why does it seem so hard for you to do that thing? You know Kobi honestly if I didn’t hear from another woman the bearing and charm of your looks, I would think you were really gay. You are the one who gives it, you still refuse. Because I'm sure if it's just another man… I'm so beautiful I will never be rejected. It's not just 'I'm going to enjoy, is it? I was really disappointed with you Kobi.” He thinks that Vita has a chance that was very narrow-minded, in fact, she is still studying in college, and take note, she still dreams of becoming a teacher.

“Love, please don't act like that. The time will also come when you will realize that everything I tell you is right for your good. For the good of ours. Alright, go ahead let's give a sample scenario what if you get pregnant at the wrong time? What will happen to your studies? What will happen to me? What will happen to us? Love, it is easy to enter the hole of short-term happiness, but it is very difficult to get through the consequences. ”

Vita suddenly fell silent at what the boyfriend said.

“Love, here it is your favorite let's just eat. Life is happy so don’t bother anything. The most important is we love each other and no one can stop us.” He hurriedly picked up a paper bag hidden behind the chair. He meant to hide that to surprise the girlfriend even in the smallest way. Vita’s favorite dish is spaghetti so before went to their meeting place he went to Jollibee.

He smiled at his girlfriend after seeing his white teeth.

"Thank you, love," said Gel who started to swallow the pasta

“That's how you should always love, always smile so that you don't grow old easily. Do you know that according to the study smile and laughter are the best ingredients for becoming always looking young? Proven that you look at the living witness in front of you 'now. " Kobi also has a sense of humor to the highest level and he did not fail because Vita smiled again.

“Yes! Mr. Castro, you have won ” Vita was already exchanging laughter with him. They were happy eating together. From time to time, the young man is still teasing his girlfriend while sharing stories of various topics that are sometimes out of the blue is pure. But Kobi is only sure himself that he is happy with his fiancée Vita even though sometimes has a habit that is not pleasant especially when he mentions the word marriage. It is natural for the couple to talk about settling down in the future because that is one of the dreams of the couple that they hope will happen in the near future. It is as if the thrill and excitement are there when the word marriage is discussed. But what Kobi wonders about Vita is that it’s not like other women you can immediately see the happiest reaction when the man mentions marriage. Just like today, he snorted again.

"Love if you are asked what is the ideal age that you want to get married?" Axe asked happily while still stroking his girlfriend's long hair. Vita frowned.

“Love is not in my mind yet! You know I'm still studying! I still have many dreams that I want to come true and most of all I still have so many things I want to buy and enjoy things that I have never tasted and experienced before. I want to feel that I am a queen and that I don't need to go to work as long as I'm just lying on the money. That's what I want. So, love, if you have a plan to marry me, you should just prepare for what I want. That's why I think you love you can't handle what I mean can you do that as long as you're just a fishmonger in the market and a small construction worker. I will cut off my fingers when that happens.” That's how high Vita’s dream is. Kobi was silent for a moment because of his girlfriend's words. He let out a deep sigh. He doesn’t think there was a mixture of contempt for what his girl friend said to him. It seems that the woman he loves looks at him even smaller than an ant.

"Love, even though your boyfriend Kobi Castro is so small please bear in mind that I also have a dream in life. You are one of the reasons why I keep trying in life.” The sadness and resentment in Kobi’s voice could not be hidden.

"Where is your dream? What a fish and cement is that only your dream to feed me? My God…Kobi where is your testicles as a man? You know I see nothing but being a poor construction worker and a fishmonger. That’s only your dream in life, Kobi Castro” Vita said laughing even more as if was insulting.