At last, One Life to Live's tortured artist, Cristian Vega, was happy. His unwanted wife, Roseanne, was history; his formidable rival for true love Jessica, Will, was out of the country; and Jess herself... she was back where she belonged, in Cristian's arms. If only he hadn't lied to get her there. Once she learned of his betrayal, his worst nightmare came true, and she left him empty-handed and brokenhearted. "Fear kept Cristian from doing what was right," explains his portrayer, David Fumero. "Reuniting with Jessica was beautiful - it was what he'd been wanting forever for. "He should have told her the truth [about Uncle Todd's lie regarding her mom's medical condition] when he realized it," he adds, "but he was too insecure."
Love Conquers All?
Although Cristian and Jessica's relationship seems doomed now that she knows that he deliberately allowd her to be misled, Fumero maintains that there still is a light at the end of the tunnel. "Cristian always has known that Jessica would eventually find out, and he truly believes that she'll [ultimately choose him] because she loves him," the actor explains. "He lied to Jessica because it was in her best interest, and he really feels that Will is no good for her." Surprisingly, the recent turn of events has forced Cristian to reevaluate his feelings and conniving Roseanne, Fumero adds. "He's forgiven her, and he does love her. And you can only forgive a person like that if you love them. He even feels guilty for what she has been through. He realizes, because of what happened with Jessica, that when you love somebody so much, you'll do anything not to lose them."
The Worst of Times, The Best of Times
As Cristian's destiny hangs in the balance, Fumero happily is taking his future one day at a time. In Llanview since June 1998, he is grateful to be playing a complex character. "I've learned so much from the show and from the great actors I've [worked with]." Now living in Manhattan, the former international model credits his folks for giving the foundation for living the American dream. "My parents are very free-spirited and wanted us to learn our own lessons," says Fumero of mom Natalia and dad Narciso, who fled Communist Cuba with three young children when the actor was 8. "When we came to this country, we were essentially alone, and didn't speak the language. "In many ways, they were very protective, but they also let me fall and get hurt," he adds. "They wanted me to experience life and make my own decisions."