Kim ‘happy’ for Maja & Gerald

MANILA, Philippines - Is there a growing tension between showbiz close friends Kim Chiu and Maja Salvador, like a page lifted from the story of their feuding characters on the ABS-CBN primetime soap Ina Kapatid Anak?

In an interview after Tuesday’s presscon to promote the Book 2 of the series, Kim was asked on the rumored romance of her Ina Kapatid Anak co-star and best friend Maja with her ex-boyfriend Gerald Anderson.

“I was shocked and surprised. I didn’t expect this to happen,” she admitted to being taken by surprise by the turn of events.

Kim said that “(Maja) asked permission from me. And I said, ‘Bakit kailangan pang magpa-alam, wala naman kay Gerald?’ Wala na talaga.”  

“For me, I’m happy for them. There’s nothing wrong with it (romance) as both of them are single. Let’s just be happy for the both of them,” she said, before adding, “nakakalungkot lang kasi yung friendship na sayang,” hinting that her friendship with Maja is going through a rough patch at the moment.

Kim clarified though that “I’m not being bitter over whatever is happening between them. Parang nalungkot lang ako kasi yung taong sinabihan ko nung time na down ako, parang kinain niya lang yung sinabi niya.”

Maja, in a separate interview at the same presscon, would neither confirm nor deny if she is dating Gerald, or if the latter is wooing her, after it was reported that they were seen together at a luxury resort in Albay last December. “I can’t answer that…Maybe you should ask him (Gerald),” she said. 

Maja also said that it wasn’t a date. â€œI was there for my cousin’s bridal shower, my best cousin, and (Gerald) was also there with his friends. I don’t have to explain pero sige po. Kasi may isa kaming pagsasama, yung 24/7 In Love (movie promo) in Davao, and so on the plane, we were able to talk about Misibis. He was asking for beautiful places to go, and I mentioned it to him. After that, we met again at the Italian Film Festival and I told him, that me and my cousins were going to Misibis for bonding and the bridal shower. Then he said, he will also arrange his own trip there. So that’s it. (We were on the) same flight.”

“From the very start, Kim knows what is happening… Okay po kami ni Kim,” Maja added.          

Kim and Maja, who were seated apart during the presscon, accommodated follow-up interviews separately, accompanied by their love team partners on the soap — Enchong Dee for Maja and Xian Lim for Kim.

Kim couldn’t hide her frustration at being repeatedly queried about Gerald, who used to be her perennial love team partner.

“Nakakapagod na kasi yung tanong kayo ng tanong sa akin tungkol kay Gerald and ang dami niya na pong dinaanan na babae, di ba? I’m not the only one. Why don’t you ask the opinion of the other girls? There are many of them.

“And it’s been (almost) three years (since the breakup) and the press keep on asking me, if I’m okay and if I’m doing fine… Of course, I’m doing fine. I’ve let go a long time ago. And ayoko naman magpakatanga…”

Asked on the seeming return of her closeness with Gerald when they were paired anew after a long time in 24/7 In Love? “We didn’t become close. We just did it for work,” said Kim.

Despite some sad feelings about the situation, Kim said that she and Maja are still (or trying to be?) â€œgood; we’re okay.” “I don’t care…Bahala na siya. She knows Gerald, who Gerald is.”

Asked if this has affected their working relationship and the on-set atmosphere of their teleserye, Kim said, â€œWe can work professionally, and then nagawa naman namin yun, and maganda naman yung mga eksena, so it’s okay.”

Earlier in the presscon, Kim said that for the heavy-drama acting in Ina Kapatid Anak, she draws inspiration from real life. “My acting (I draw it from) more on personal life. It’s because I’ve been through a lot and channel those experiences in my acting. Sometimes, we get carried away by our characters, by the story and the lines na sobrang sakit sabihin.”

Kim is currently being romantically linked to Xian, although the two maintained that they are just good friends. Kim said, “I’m happy with Xian, how he is with my family, and his respect for me.”

Xian stood for the most part speechless and stoic beside Kim during the interview, only having a look at Kim whenever her voice seemed to crack. The media milling around Kim thought she was going to tear up — but she didn’t.

Xian, who spent some time with Kim’s family during the holidays, later on said that for whatever Kim’s going through, “I’ll always give an open ear and lend a helping hand to Kim.”

Same with co-star Enchong who helped Maja deflect some of the probing questions from the press, by saying, “I think it’s not healthy to say that they have friction just because of one person. And I think it’s not enough reason to have a fight (or misunderstanding). Yung pagkakaibigan nila na naipon hindi naman basta-basta mawawala yun. Maybe, there are many things that can still happen after today. Maybe, there are questions that cannot be answered at the moment.”

While it remains to be seen how this “test of friendship,” as some pundits put it, will play out in the days to come, Kim nevertheless hopes for “positivity, to be fearless, be happy and let’s just enjoy,” this 2013, also making a request to bashers to rein in their comments towards Maja and Gerald. “To the bashers, enough already. Kung nagmamahalan man sila, kung anuman ang nararamdaman nila sa isa’t isa, maging masaya na lang po tayo.”