Inalala ni Dra. Vicki Belo ang panahong puno siya ng pangamba kung magtatagal ang relasyon nila ni Dr. Hayden Kho Jr.
Nagkakilala sila nang maging hurado si Vicki sa Mr. and Ms. Medicine pageant sa University of Sto. Tomas noong 2005.
"Unfortunately, I am one of those women who needs a man. I feel that's a weakness.
"I am sure you all know how turbulent my relationship with Hayden has been over the years.
"We've been together seventeen years, so that's a really long time. The first seven years, I think, were really bad," balik-tanaw ni Vicki.
Nakapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Vicki sa mediacon ng Philippine Heart Association nitong March 2022.
Malaking adjustment daw para kay Hayden ang mapasubo sa mundo ng showbiz noong simula ng kanilang relasyon.
Nahuhusgahan sila dahil sa kanilang 24-year age gap.
Lahad ni Vicki: "It was a secret relationship at first. And then when it came out in the open... it became so bad because suddenly Hayden had to...
"You know, he was dealing with a whole new world, a new set of people.
"Everybody's talking about us and calling him a boy toy."
Noong panahong iyon ay model at president ng interns association ng Makati Medical Center si Hayden.
Patuloy ni Vicki, "So in his mind, 'I'm successful.' But when he started dating me, parang everybody was annoying him. So, medyo nagkagulu-gulo.
"The reason that I kept hanging around is because I knew that he was a good man. Then he became not so good...
"My fear then, 'What if I go through all this suffering? And now we're together he's good again.' Parang ang sakit naman for me, di ba, pinaghirapan ko na."
Pero nalampasan ng couple ang turbulent years na iyon.
HAPPIER YEARS
Ikinasal sina Vicki at Hayden via civil wedding noong 2017, at nagdiwang ng Christian wedding sa Paris noong 2018.
"Now, it's better," nakangiting sabi pa ni Vicki sa PEP.ph.
Puring-puri niya ang asawa.
"Now it's wonderful, he's 41, it's a beautiful age. He's really matured, he's responsible, he's really the leader of the family.
"He takes care of me. I feel so alaga, and I'm so happy. I think, emotions definitely play a big role in people's lives.
"For me, Hayden makes me feel young. He always makes me feel so attractive. It's important to feel loved to have a healthy heart."
HOW HAYDEN CHASES AWAY VICKI'S INsecurities
Masaya ring ibinahagi ni Vicki kung bakit espesyal sa kanya ang luxury car na iniregalo ni Hayden noong Valentine's Day.
Isa itong Bentley W12 na hindi biro ang halaga.
"He gave me a car, but it wasn't the car that make me feel so loved.
"Part of the thing was, since I was adopted, I always have issues na, 'Ay, I'm not lovable, pinamigay ako.' Yung ganun feeling mo always.
"In my life, I have tendecies for me to be more generous to people around me, but I never expected anyone to be really generous to me kasi feeling ko that's normal."
Kaya masarap daw sa pakiramdam na alam ni Hayden kung paano mawala ang kanyang insecurities mula sa kanyang childhood.
At na-appreciate daw ni Vicki na pinaghirapan ng mister ang regalo nito sa kanya.
Read: Hayden Kho surprises wife Vicki Belo with her dream car on Valentine's Day
Lahad niya, "This Valentine, it was so funny because he wanted to give me this car for a long time.
"I wanted to buy it, but it's too mahal. Sabi niya, 'Can I buy it for you?' 'Hayden, what are you doing? We are not going anywhere. We don't need a car.'
"But of course, he knows that it was the last item on my bucket list.
"Me naman, I don't wanna finish it. Baka if I will finish it, baka mamatay na ako. Haha!
"In the end, he suprised me with his gift. But more than the gift, it wasn't that, I know how much it cost, I know he sacrificed for that car.
"And for him to give that. Parang, they say your heart is where your treasure is. So if he put his treasure there and gave it to me, so I'll have his heart."