91

It was two weeks after their viral duet and still, the De Torres were everywhere.

From late-night talk shows to news features, the story of Rafael and Lea De Torre's "Sun and Moon" had become a symbol of enduring love, artistry, and... to Rafael's irritation, unexpected vocal talent.

Lea woke to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand.

Her first groggy thought was another Kris Aquino vlog. Her second was someone must have said something stupid online again.

"Paeng," she mumbled, elbowing the man beside her who was pretending to sleep. "Your kingdom's calling."

Rafael groaned, eyes still shut. "If it's Boy or Kris again, tell them I've retired from the music industry."

Lea chuckled, unlocking her phone. Her notifications were endless: "DE TORRE DUET PART 2?" "Lea Hints at Concert with Husband?!" "Kris Aquino wants them at her birthday special!"

"Oh no," Lea whispered, half laughing, half exasperated. "They're serious. They want an encore."

Rafael cracked one eye open. "An encore of what, exactly?"

"Of you, apparently. Kris posted a poll — 'Should Rafael De Torre record a duet album with Lea?' It already has half a million votes."

He groaned, burying his face in her pillow. "I'm suing her."

Lea laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bed. "You can't sue national treasures, my love. Besides," she said, curling against him, "I told you this would happen."

He looked at her with mock accusation. "You planned this."

"Maybe subconsciously," she teased. "But admit it, you enjoyed it."

He didn't answer immediately. Just reached for her hand, kissed her knuckles, and murmured, "Maybe a little."

By mid-afternoon, Rafael was in his office, trying to go through paperwork while the entire floor buzzed with energy. Janus, his assistant, stood at the door with a grin far too mischievous for a Tuesday.

"Sir," Janus said, holding a tablet. "TVN's morning show just aired a full segment about your duet. They called it 'The Corporate Crooner Phenomenon.' They even analyzed your vocal tone."

Rafael stared blankly. "They analyzed my what?"

Janus nodded solemnly. "Your tone, sir. The way you harmonized with Ma'am Lea. The host said, and I quote, 'There's power in restraint. Rafael's voice is discipline personified.'"

Rafael leaned back, sighing. "I used to be known for mergers and acquisitions. Now it's... harmony and falsettos."

Janus barely held back a laugh. "Sir, the people love you. Maybe it's time for a follow-up performance."

Rafael glared. "Don't you start."

That evening, the villa was unusually lively. Ellie was visiting with Soleil, and Liam was on the couch showing Rafael memes from the internet.

"Papa, look!" Liam laughed, flipping his iPad toward him. "Someone made a Sun and Moon: The Remix!" The clip was auto-tuned, with Rafael's "You are sunlight and I moon" turned into a dance track.

Lea nearly spit out her tea laughing. "Oh my God, that's fantastic!"

Rafael pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm surrounded by traitors."

Liam grinned cheekily. "You're famous again, Papa."

"I was famous before this," Rafael said flatly.

Ellie snickered from the armchair. "Yeah, but now you're trending for romance, not finance."

Lea leaned against Rafael, teasing softly, "I think it's poetic. You spent your whole life building legacies through work, and then one night — one song — reminded people that your heart's your biggest legacy."

Rafael turned his gaze toward her, eyes softening. "That's because you're in it."

The room fell into a hush. Ellie mock-gagged, Liam groaned dramatically, and Lea swatted Rafael's arm, blushing despite herself.

"Still got it," Liam whispered to Soleil, who was gurgling on Ellie's lap.

The next morning, Kris's team contacted both Lea and Rafael formally.

A televised charity gala for children's literacy — to be held at the CCP — wanted to close the night with their duet. Kris herself would host. Boy would moderate a post-performance Q&A. Darla would handle PR.

Rafael looked at the email for a full minute before saying flatly, "Absolutely not."

Lea raised an eyebrow. "Absolutely yes."

He blinked. "You're siding with them?"

"I'm siding with art," she teased, arms crossed. "Also, you can't waste that voice."

He sighed deeply, staring at her, knowing the argument was lost before it even began. "You're impossible."

"Admit it," Lea said, leaning forward with that familiar playful smirk, "you love me impossible."

He didn't hesitate. "Hopelessly."

The charity gala was packed — senators, CEOs, theater artists, and students all gathered in the grand hall. Kris, radiant in a gold gown, introduced them with theatrical flair.

"And now," she said, smiling at the cameras, "the couple that broke the internet, melted hearts, and reminded us that true love sings — Lea and Rafael De Torre!"

As they walked to the stage, Lea squeezed Rafael's hand. "You ready?"

He smiled faintly. "For you? Always."

The music began again — the same opening notes of Sun and Moon. This time, Lea's voice trembled slightly, not from nerves, but from the surreal beauty of it all. And when Rafael joined in, the crowd erupted in soft gasps — as if the first time had been a dream, and this was proof it was real.

By the end, they held hands and bowed, and Rafael — ever the private man — surprised everyone again.

He turned to Lea, kissed her lips almost taking her breath away, then casually whispered into the mic, "I only ever sing for her."

The audience lost it.

Kris fanned herself dramatically. "See?! THIS is why we love them!"

Boy yelled from the sidelines, "They're not acting! That's real!"

That night, back at the villa, Rafael lay beside Lea in bed, their phones still lighting up from messages and mentions.

"Paeng," Lea murmured, tracing circles on his chest, "I think we've just become everyone's favorite love story again."

He chuckled softly, pressing a kiss into her hair. "Then let's make sure we don't disappoint them."

Lea laughed, whispering, "That means you'll have to keep singing."

Rafael groaned. "I walked into that one, didn't I?"

"You did," she said, smiling against his skin. "And you'll walk into it again."

He laughed quietly, tightening his hold on her. "Fine. But next time, we're choosing another song."

She tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her eyes tender. "You already know the only song that matters."

He smiled. "Which one's that?"

"The one we've been singing for years," she said softly. "Us."

And somewhere online, hours later, the encore video uploaded by Kris hit five million views — not because of the song, but because of the moment after it. When Rafael De Torre looked at Lea Salonga as if the world itself existed just to hear her voice.