CHAPTER 11: TWO HEARTS, ONE FUTURE
January 2000 – One Secret, One Spotlight
The engagement had sent shockwaves across the country. Bella and Enzo, already legends in their own right, were now the story of the new millennium. TV specials aired with titles like Pag-Ibig na Walang Script and The Real-Life Love Team. Fan letters flooded Viva Films, along with wedding gifts from people they'd never met.
Even Malacañang released a statement from the President:
"We are honored to witness the union of two artists who represent the beauty of modern Filipino love. I would be pleased to sponsor their wedding, should they allow it."
Bella had laughed when she read it. "Can you imagine? The President paying for my bridal bouquet?"
Enzo grinned. "Well, we did shoot a campaign ad for him once."
But amidst the glitter and headlines, something quieter was blooming.
Something only Bella knew.
The Test
She didn't want to overthink it at first. She blamed the nausea on exhaustion. The missed period on stress. But when the craving for sinigang struck at 2 AM—and she cried because Enzo made it too sour—she knew.
She stood alone in their bathroom, staring at two pink lines on a pregnancy test with trembling hands.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
Her heart pounded louder than any applause she'd ever heard.
She sat on the edge of the tub, one hand on her stomach, the other covering her mouth. The ring on her finger sparkled in the light.
It wasn't fear she felt.
It was awe.
Telling Him
She waited until the next evening.
They were in their shared condo, curled up on the couch with leftovers, watching old black-and-white Tagalog films. Enzo's head was resting on her lap, half-asleep.
"Love," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. "I have something to tell you."
His eyes fluttered open. "Hmm?"
"I'm pregnant."
He blinked once. Twice. Then slowly sat up.
"You're… wait. What?"
"I took two tests."
Silence.
Then—tears. Not from her. From him.
He pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her shoulder.
"We're going to be parents," he whispered.
She nodded, eyes glistening. "You're going to be a dad, Enzo."
They laughed, cried, kissed, and held each other for what felt like forever. No cameras. No scripts. Just the sound of their hearts beating in tandem.
That night, Enzo knelt by her belly and kissed it gently.
"Hi, baby," he whispered. "We haven't met yet, but I already love you."
Planning the Wedding
With Bella's pregnancy in its first trimester, they decided not to tell the public right away. The wedding planning was already a national spectacle, and they wanted at least one part of their life to remain their own for a while longer.
But the wedding?
It became the event of the year.
Planned for April 2000, the wedding would be held at the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros, followed by a grand reception at Malacañang Palace, personally offered by the President. The event was to be televised nationwide, with a musical score performed live by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and a guest list that included senators, celebrities, and even international guests.
Famed designer Rajo Laurel created Bella's custom ivory terno gown, complete with intricate embroidery and a 12-foot train. Enzo's barong was handwoven by artisans from Lumban.
The country waited with bated breath.
Behind the Glamour
Despite the grandeur, Bella and Enzo stayed grounded.
They still had nightly taho runs. He still did her prenatal foot massages. She still teased him for crying at their baby's first ultrasound.
"Enzo," she giggled, holding up the print. "It's a peanut. Why are you sobbing?"
"It's our peanut," he choked out.
One afternoon, while choosing flower arrangements, Bella suddenly gasped.
"What is it?" he asked, rushing to her side.
She placed his hand gently on her belly.
"I think... I think I felt them move."
Enzo froze.
And then—there it was. A flutter. Like a tiny wave under skin.
His eyes widened.
"You're real," he whispered to the baby. "You're really real."
A Private Moment Before the Public One
The night before the wedding, Bella and Enzo stood outside their hotel room balcony overlooking Manila Bay, watching the city glow beneath a violet sky.
"Are you scared?" she asked quietly.
"Terrified," he admitted. "But also the happiest I've ever been."
She turned to him, barefoot in her silk robe, the wind teasing strands of her hair.
"I never thought I'd get this," she said. "Not just the career. But you. This kind of love."
He cupped her face. "It's always been you."
She leaned her head against his chest, her hand over their child.
"In a few hours, the whole country will see us say 'I do,'" she said.
"They'll hear it," Enzo whispered. "But only you will feel what I really mean."