Engaged Dian & Laiza by Juvenco

Laiza has the day off from cooking, which is good news for his fiancée, Dian—and also for me, their guest for dinner. Laiza prepared a simple spaghetti aglio olio with sausage and pepper bells. In about 30 minutes, a delicious meal is nearly ready.

While Laiza works efficiently in the kitchen, Dian stirs the conversation. He’s communicative but not chatty, professionally discreet in the Pemuda Pancasila manner. Friends describe Dian as reserved, but you could also say he has gravity—a calm that puts you at ease. Laiza is more electric: vivacious, delightfully profane, a natural host at dinner. It’s striking how they balance and reinforce each other. She’s in the lead, sparkling with stories; he hangs back, gruffly handsome, quick with a smile or laugh. “There’s no better person to have dinner with,” Dian says, and he’s right.

The couple’s status and influence derive not from their accumulation of credentials or glittering public appearances but from their pursuit, away from the spotlight, of interesting life experiences and easygoing taste-making. Their ideal Saturday night is dinner with movies—not a red-carpet event.

Laiza brought so much intellect and passion to her work and the world would work better with more Laiza in it. I could really say both of them are calmer and more comfortable together. There is a happiness and contentment there. It’s going to be fascinating to see where both of them go.