Long distance love
THERE are those who feel a deep connection and know they have found their lifelong companion. Talitha Rere and Isoa Daveta first met at the Outrigger Resort in Sigatoka back in 2022. This meet ignited a spark.
While Isoa worked at the resort as a food and beverage attendant, Talitha had arrived from New Zealand on a two-week girl’s trip with her cousin and best friend.
“We stayed at the resort for a week and the whole time we didn’t see or meet Isoa once until the last day of our stay there,” Talitha recalled.
“My cousin and I decided that we weren’t ready to check out at 10am and asked reception if we could stay a little longer. So they did allow us to stay until 5pm.
“We went down to the bar to order some drinks and food and then for the first-time during that whole trip we decided to sit by the pool.”
It was around 2pm when Talitha saw a worker walk past and stand a few feet away from them.
“He turned around, saw me, and immediately came over to introduce himself ‘bula my name is Izzy’.
“After small talk, he explained that he was actually knocking knock off and was disappointed that we hadn’t been able to talk earlier.”
As he left, Talitha turned to her cousin and said, “that boy is so cute.”
The cousin replied: “I’m going to tell him you said that when he comes back.”
Confused, Talitha recalled Isoa was knocking off and wondered why he would come back.
“Apparently my cousin could tell he was going to come back to talk to me.
“He went to grab his phone from the locker so that he could text me and make sure the rest of my trip went OK.
“We started texting each other from that day and never stopped.”
When Talitha returned home, the pair started communicating with their many video chats and their relationship began to blossom.
“He would call me before and after work, sometimes during,” she said with laughter.
“We just clicked, it was never hard for us to talk for hours, the conversation always flowed, and I think that was the most important thing.”
The pair were together in a longdistance relationship for a year and had their legal marriage on July 19, 2023.
“I had visited Fiji in May last year to see Isoa and we stayed at Nalagi Hotel for the weekend.
“One night we had pizza and drinks for dinner when Isoa wanted to take some photos of us on my phone.
“When he went to open the photo app, he had seen an album I made of him and titled it with the nickname that only his family call him.”
Isoa was surprised and questioned how she knew his nickname.
“I said I had heard his brothers call him that while visiting the village.”
He explained that only his family called him this as it was a special name and said: “do you want to be a part of my family too?”
“I said yes, and he said ‘really?’ and I said yes, I do. I love your family.”
Isoa then ran inside, grabbed one of Talitha’s rings, got on his knees and popped the question.
With tears in his eyes, he said: “I’m sorry that in this moment I’m not able to give you a proper ring, but I promise if this is OK with you, I will look after you and love you for the rest of my life.
“I love you so much, will you marry me?”
Talitha later questioned Isoa if they would change their minds the next day.
Following their legal marriage, Talitha returned to New Zealand and found that she was pregnant with twin girls.
“Then we decided to have a wedding for both of our families to celebrated together on December 23, 2023.
“Most of the arrangements were done through Isoa’s family and he did his best to communicate what was needed from both sides.
“We actually got most of the things done the week of the wedding when both of our families were together in person and able to do it all at the same time.”
Their beautiful day was celebrated in Lomalagi Settlement, Vatukoula where they also chose to do their gender reveal for the twins.
“My husband cried when I walked down the aisle in my traditional Fijian masi and he looked so handsome while I was walking down.
“That’s something we didn’t experience the first-time so I’m really happy we got a moment like that. Also, my family had performed three Cook Island dances as a special gift to the family and on the last song I surprised my husband by getting up to dance with them.”
Mr and Mrs Daveta say love and trust continue to play an important role in their marriage.
She said things would always fall into place despite the struggles if there was passion and commitment.