What makes them tick?

It’s the irony of ironies. As mainstay of ABS-CBN’s defunct Tabing Ilog, Paolo Contis, like the rest of the show’s cast and production crew, thought nothing was better than giving its direct competitor, GMA’s Love to Love, a run for their money.

But now that he is with GMA and a mainstay of Love to Love with girlfriend Nancy Castiglione, it is Paolo’s mission to make the competition eat dust and nothing but.

That’s how the game is played in the dog-eat-dog ratings game, Paolo shrugs. Except that in his case, he is not only caught smack in the eye of the storm, he’s actually enjoying it. Whenever he’s tired on the set, Nancy is there to soothe his frayed nerves by wiping off the sweat from his brow or giving him a gentle massage.

The two were holding hands the minute they entered the presscon venue where GMA announced its first anniversary presentation for Love to Love. Paolo’s decision to transfer to GMA has done wonders for their two-year relationship. Program insiders say the Nancy and Paolo have never fought on the set and tapings (every Friday) are a breeze.

Ask Lino Cayetano, who directs Pretty Boy, one of two back-to-back stories Love to Love is presenting starting Sunday, July 11, 3 p.m. (the other one is Sweet Exchange, starring Dingdong Dantes and Karylle and directed by the equally-young Mark Reyes).

"When I saw Nancy, I marveled at how pretty she is. But when I saw Paolo (dressed up as Ianne, a male basketball player pretending to be a girl so he won’t lose his athletic scholarship), he was just as pretty," Lino observed.

Nancy doesn’t mind seeing her boyfriend all dolled up as a cross dresser. After all, it’s not the first time Paolo did it, to critical acclaim at that. And Nancy knows this.

Besides, the lovebirds have graduated beyond petty things at this point. "At first," Paolo and Nancy admit, "We tended to suffocate each other. Jealousy was there."

But as they grew closer and more comfortable with each other, they discovered how unhealthy jealousy is to their relationship. So they let each other go their separate ways when needed.

Paolo spends as much as seven hours in the gym, sans Nancy.

Teased that there might be another reason for that long stay in the gym besides the exercise equipment, Paolo says, "Nancy made an ocular inspection first."

"That’s true," she chimes in. "I went there for a week."

Nancy, for her part, goes shopping and dining with friends she made after settling down in the country from Canada.

"I used to go with her," Paolo says. "But I’m a poor shopping companion. I don’t enjoy walking too much."

The mutual trust has become so strong Nancy doesn’t flinch when press people tease Paolo about ex-girlfriend Desiree del Valle.

"I went to the US for a show, to earn money, and nothing more," Paolo says, nipping speculations of a possible reconciliation in the bud.

The couple has even discussed the possibility of not being able to have kids once they marry. Nancy inherited an ovarian problem that, while not cancerous, may prevent her from having kids.

"That’s just fine with me," Paolo says. "A child is a gift from God. And we will accept whatever happens."

"Our faith is strong, though," Nancy hastens to add.

She cites the case of a cousin with the same problem who was able to bear healthy children. Her doctor also assured her that Nancy can bear children with the help of fertility pills.

No way will they let that setback interfere with their happiness. And neither will their respective parents. Paolo and Nancy’s parents, both partly of Italian lineage, literally and figuratively speak the same language.

When Nancy’s Canada-based parents visited her recently, they found Paolo so ideal for their youngest daughter they even call long distance to see if he’s doing fine despite a common cold he caught somewhere.

"They would not even talk to me," Nancy says, hinting at being hurt. "I was expecting them to ask for me after they’ve talked to Paolo, but they didn’t."

Paolo, for his part, says Nancy knows how to endear herself to his parents.

"Paolo has no sister and I have no brother, our parents look at each of us as the son or daughter they never had," explains Nancy.

Nancy will fly, first to Canada, then to Cuba, for an older sister’s wedding. Then she’ll be back to work at GMA (she is also with Hanggang Kailan) and her other commitments, like mall tours and product endorsements (Bobson and MKNY footwear).

She’ll have Paolo by her side all the way, in much the same way that Paolo can count on Nancy to give him unconditional support. Ah, love!