BY NEIL RAMOS
IT’S easy to assume Klea Pineda and Jeric Gonzales are an item given their all-too brazen display of affection towards each other.
The two, however, maintained they are just close friends.
“Si Klea kasi malambing talaga siya and I can’t help but reciprocate the sweetness,” explained Jeric, smiling, going on to put his arms around Klea.
Meanwhile, Klea, on her part, leaned on Jeric’s shoulder.
She shared, “Naging close kami talaga of late lang. I mean, we’ve known each other na for a time pero lately lang naming na discover na we have so many things in common like mahilig kami pareho mag-motor so, ‘yun, medyo we got to really bond but as friends.”
They have no problem with their feelings developing beyond that.
As Klea said, “Boyfriend material si Jeric. I mean, he’s good-looking, mabait, caring and ‘yun nga we’re both adventurous so, I like that.”
Jeric intoned, “It’s possible and kung sakali man I could only be too happy, Klea is someone you would really be proud of to have as girlfriend.”
In any case, the duo’s newfound closeness should be a boon now that they are set to be paired in an upcoming GMA teleserye, the sexy-drama “Magkaagaw.”
“Oo nga e, ang ganda ng timing,” said Jeric, who admitted to being “very excited” with the idea of him finally getting to play lead in a teleserye, several years after he was declared Male Champion of the GMA talent search “Protégé.”
“Nakakatuwa kasi ‘diba, finally, nagbunga rin ang sipag at tiyaga ko,” he added.
He went on, “I admit medyo sumama ang loob ko for some time dahil parang napag-iwanan ako ng mga kasabayan ko, na parang, I started questioning if I did the right thing, entering showbiz. Pero ito, finally GMA has given me this break and I could only be thankful. Now, I will definitely prove myself worthy.”
It is a big bonus for Jeric that he is paired with Klea in the series.
“Siyempre kasi kami wala nang ilangan eh, ang dami naming mga intimate scenes na gagawin so, I’m thankful na siya ang kasama ko dito,” he maintained.
Klea echoed his sentiment.
“Nagbibiruan nga kami about it, sabi namin, ‘galingan natin para one take lang lahat,’ and it’s a good thing kasi ‘diba at least hindi awkward,” she related, laughing.
The “Starstruck” Season Six Ultimate Survivor admitted shooting intimate scenes is a challenge for her.
She said, “Kasi ang nature ko talaga parang very boyish, hindi talaga ‘yung girly-girly, bihira nga ako mag-heels eh so, to act sensually na parang alam mo ‘yun? I need someone na comfortable ako to be with para magawa ko.”
Mentioning rumors about her supposedly being actually lesbian in real life, Klea laughed.
“Narinig ko nga ‘yan pero that’s old, anong petsa na! I may look tough and act boyish, pero girl na girl naman po ako!”
Both are hoping to elevate their careers with “Magkaagaw.”
“Siyempre kasi kapag binigyan ka ng chance, you make sure you are worthy,” said Jeric.
Klea added, “Not only that, we owe it to those who voted for us all those years ago ‘diba? Gusto naming patunayan na we really deserve to be here.”