CHAPTER 15: LIFE BETWEEN SCENES
October–December 2000 – Manila & Tagaytay
The moment Bella and Enzo stepped out of their front gate holding baby Amara, the country held its breath.
Draped in a soft yellow blanket, her tiny face shielded gently against her father's chest, Amara Rivera—the first child of the most beloved couple in Philippine entertainment—had entered the world beyond the womb and straight into the nation's heart.
The Media Frenzy
Within minutes, paparazzi shots circulated: Enzo in a denim jacket and cap, Bella in oversized sunglasses, both walking quietly into a pediatric clinic. The headlines were instant:
"FIRST GLIMPSE OF BABY AMARA—THE ROYAL BABY OF PHILIPPINE CINEMA"
"BELLA & ENZO'S BUNDLE OF JOY: SHE'S HERE AND SHE'S BEAUTIFUL"
"FANS REACT TO AMARA'S DEBUT—'WE'VE WAITED OUR WHOLE LIVES FOR HER'"
TV stations aired clips of the Rivera wedding again, now side-by-side with grainy, long-lens photos of Bella's hand clutching a baby bottle.
But despite the noise, Enzo and Bella stood firm.
"No interviews," Enzo told their publicist.
"No baby reveal," Bella added gently. "Not yet."
Instead, they released a statement:
"We are overjoyed to welcome our daughter, Amara Lucia Santiago-Rivera, into our lives. She's healthy, curious, and already loves music. Thank you for respecting our little family's privacy as we embrace this new chapter—with diapers, lullabies, and so much love."
Parenthood in Private
The early months were quiet, sleepy, and sacred.
Mornings began at 4 AM with soft cries and the warm scent of milk. Enzo would stumble into the nursery, eyes barely open, and cradle Amara while humming classic kundiman melodies.
"You're a natural," Bella would whisper from the door, watching them sway.
"I'm just improvising," he'd smile back.
Bella kept a baby journal, each page carefully detailed with Amara's first coo, her first smile, her first hiccup that startled her into tears. She pasted photos, wrote notes for her daughter to read one day.
"Today, you laughed at your Papa's sneeze. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard."
Fan Culture and Curiosity
Outside their world of lullabies and baby lotion, fans remained captivated. Online forums trended daily with theories:
"Is Amara going to be an actress too?"
"Do you think Bella sings her lullabies in her teleserye voice?"
"If Enzo is this handsome, imagine the baby!"
Some fans sent hand-sewn clothes, custom lullaby albums, and even knitted dolls that looked like Bella and Enzo in Hearts on Fire.
One afternoon, their assistant brought in a package: a scrapbook sent by a fan club. It was titled: "For Amara—From the Nation That Loves You."
Bella's eyes welled as she flipped through the pages filled with letters, blessings, drawings of Amara holding a film clapperboard.
"These people," Enzo whispered, "they've loved us through every chapter."
"And now they love her," Bella said, pressing the book to her chest. "It's overwhelming… but beautiful."
A Visit to Tagaytay
By November, the family returned to their Tagaytay resthouse for a short break from city life. The air was cool, the skies a pale watercolor blue. Amara slept better there—maybe the silence reminded her of the womb.
One chilly evening, Enzo built a small firepit and wrapped Amara in a soft fleece blanket. Bella held a cup of ginger tea, her legs curled under her, as they sat around the fire like they had during their honeymoon.
"She's growing so fast," Bella said, brushing her daughter's soft hair. "Sometimes I'm scared I'll forget these little moments."
Enzo leaned over, kissed her temple. "That's why we keep writing them down. In letters, in photos, in our hearts."
They stayed there for hours, letting the world fall away.
Back to Work (Almost)
Viva Films had started hinting at a comeback film for the couple. Billboards teased: "The Riveras Return…?"
Bella hadn't committed yet.
"I'm not sure I'm ready to step back," she admitted to her manager one afternoon. "I'm still soaking in her scent. Her firsts."
"And Enzo?" the manager asked.
"He's still watching her sleep like she's made of stars."
A New Family Tradition
In December, they hosted their first Christmas Eve dinner as a family. Just close relatives, friends, a few ninongs and ninangs. Baby Amara wore a white dress with tiny gold butterflies. She sat on Bella's lap, wide-eyed at the fairy lights.
They sang carols. Ate leche flan and puto bumbong. Enzo performed a silly puppet show with Amara's plush toys that had everyone laughing, including the baby herself.
As midnight mass ended, they gathered by the Christmas tree, and Vicente Santiago raised a glass.
"To the next generation of magic," he toasted. "To Amara—and the love that made her possible."
Late-Night Conversations
That night, when the house was quiet, and Amara was finally asleep, Bella and Enzo stood in the nursery doorway, watching their daughter dream.
"I never thought this would be my greatest role," Bella whispered.
Enzo took her hand. "Neither did I. But it is, isn't it?"
She nodded, tears catching in her lashes. "It really is."
He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Let's promise something," he murmured. "No matter what films we make, what awards we win… this—this is the story we protect first."
Bella leaned her head back against his chest.
"I promise."