A story

He met her on a party. She was the centre of attraction, and many guys were wooing her, while he's just a normal guy. Nobody paid him the slightest attention. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but being polite, she agreed. They sat in a nice coffee house, but he was too nervous to say anything. She felt uncomfortable, and thought, "Please let me leave.."

Suddenly, he asked the waiter "Could you give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everyone stared at him. His face turned red, but still, he added salt to his coffee and drank it.

Out of curiosity, she asked him, "why do you have such a strange habit?"

He replied: "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, and smell the salty breeze. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I'll always think of my childhood memories, I'll think of my hometown, and I miss my hometown so much. I miss my parents who are still living there". While saying that tears filled his eyes.

She was deeply touched.

That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell out his homesickness, must be a man who loves home, cares about home, and has responsibility of home.

Then she also started to speak, spoke about her faraway hometown, her childhood and her family. That was a really nice talk they had, also a beautiful beginning of their story.

They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind-hearted, warm, careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed him if not for the salty coffee!

Then just like every beautiful love story , the princess was married to the prince, and lived a very happy life. And everytime she made coffee for him, she'd put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked it.

After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said:

"My Dearest,

Please forgive me, forgive my lie. This was the only lie I told you - the salty coffee.

Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt! It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our communication! I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything.

Now that I'm dying, I afraid of nothing so I'll tell you the truth. I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste.. But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I knew you, I never felt sorry for anything I did for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for the second time, I still want to know you and have you for my whole life..

..even if I have to drink the salty coffee again..".

Her tears made the letter totally wet.

A few years passed, and one day, someone asked her "how does salty coffee taste like?"

"Its sweet.." She replied.