MOVING FORWARD

After the SM Artist show with Zein, they headed straight to their second guesting—an open talk show hosted by Tito Boy Rond.

On set…

“Standby… and in 1, 2, 3… action!”

“Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat! Ito po si Boy, and welcome to Open Talk!” (opening music plays)

“Ngayong hapon, excited ako dahil makakapanayam natin ang dalawang sikat na artista ng industriya—isang nagbabalik at isang nagse-celebrate ng kanyang 8 years in showbiz. Please welcome Drey Gil and Zein Shion!”

(Music plays as the audience claps.)

“Hello!” Tito Boy greeted them warmly, giving each a kiss on the cheek.

“Hello, Drey… hello, Zein. Have a seat.”

“Welcome to Open Talk. Kumusta? Kumusta ang tambalan?” he asked with a smile.

Drey nodded. “Ahm, we’re good. Masaya… and—” he glanced at Zein, “very comfortable ako katrabaho si Zein, especially with a good team.”

Zein smiled. “Same here po, Tito. Drey is very approachable and very ‘light’ to work with.”

“Light?” Tito Boy raised an eyebrow playfully. “Ilaw ba ‘yan o ano?”

The audience laughed.

“Ahm, I mean po, magaan siyang katrabaho,” Zein clarified. “Parang nagkaka-connect kami, so hindi mahirap ilabas yung emotions.”

“So you mean, hindi ka nahihirapan?” Tito Boy asked.

“Yes po,” Zein answered.

“Okay… so Forevermore. Ano ang dapat naming abangan sa movie na ito?”

“I’ll answer po,” Zein said. “The story revolves around two people who grew up in very different situations in life. One is a dreamer, while the other doesn’t really value the dreams that others fight for.”

Drey added, “Parang ano po, Tito Boy—she dreams of something that I already have but don’t appreciate.”

“Ohh, interesting. Tapos?”

“So along the way, they meet… and that’s where everything starts,” Drey said. “No spoilers!” he added with a laugh.

“Okay, we’re excited to see that. This April 25, Monday, right?”

“Yes po,” Zein confirmed.

“Alright! Let’s do Open Talk. Let’s start with Zein…”

Okay, Zein, diretsahang tanong—ito ang isa sa gustong malaman ng mga netizens. Grabe, yung trailer niyo, pumatok agad. Trailer pa lang, panalo na!”

Zein smiled and nodded. “Opo.”

“First question: anong pakiramdam makatrabaho ang isang OG at heartthrob ng BAS-BNC?”

“Hmm, si Drey po kasi… I feel at ease working with him. Kahit first time pa lang namin, napaka-convincing ng acting niya, nadadala ka talaga. Halimbawa sa mga iyakan scenes, parang nahahawa ako sa emotions niya. Tsaka he’s very patient and a true gentleman. Yun po,” Zein answered.

“Mahalaga talaga sa trabaho yung connection, ‘di ba? Kasi pag intimidated ka, mahirap sumabay.”

“Opo, Tito Boy,” Zein replied.

“Okay, next question—Drey, how’s your heart right now?”

Drey smiled. “Hmm… I’m happy and moving forward, Tito Boy.”

“Moving forward… okay. So, open ka na ulit for a relationship?” the host followed up.

“Yes. It’s been two years since naghiwalay kami. I’m not closing any doors, pero hindi rin ako nagmamadali. Time will come,” Drey answered honestly.

“Okay, third question for Zein—single ka pa ba?”

Zein laughed. “Tito Boy naman, on the spot! Hahaha. Well… not single, not taken—nasa gitna po, may nangliligaw.”

“Ohhh, who is—”

“No po, Tito, bawal pa muna sabihin! Hahaha.”

“Okay, Drey—may nililigawan ka ba?”

“Uhm… wala…” (long pause) “Wala pa sa ngayon, Tito. Hindi ko pa ramdam. And I don’t want to be in a relationship kung hindi pa ako fully healed.”

“Yes, tama ‘yan. Focus on what makes you happy, Drey. We’ll support you.”

Drey smiled. “Thank you po, Tito.”

“Last question, Zein—kung may sasabihin ka sa ex mo, ano ‘yon? A message na hindi mo nasabi sa kanya?”

“Hmm… siguro, thank you for the memories. And sana mahanap mo yung tamang tao para sa’yo—at magseryoso ka na,” Zein said with a smile.

“Wow, maganda ‘yun—malalim! Hahaha.”

Everyone laughed. “Ikaw naman, Drey?”

“Uhm… I hope you’re happy. Chase your dreams, and let the world see how capable and beautiful you are… inside. I’m happy for you, and patuloy kitang susuportahan. I’ll always be your biggest fan,” Drey said, smiling with a hint of pain.

“Wow… ‘yan ang tunay na lalaki. Masakit talaga mawalan ng mga taong mahal natin, ‘no? Pero yung patuloy mo pa rin silang sinusuportahan—ibang level ‘yon ng pagmamahal.”

Zein nodded in agreement. “Si Drey po talaga, Tito… masasabi ko na he’s someone a girl would really want to be with.”

Drey smiled shyly. “Hindi naman. I think all men have different ways of expressing their love. Nasa babae na lang po ‘yon kung paano nila maa-appreciate.”

“Yes, and that’s why, Drey, I believe soon you’ll get what you deserve because of your big—”

“Ahhahaha, big butt?” Drey joked.

The host laughed. “Hahaha—big heart!”

Everyone laughed.

“Hahaha, thank you po, Tito Boy,” Drey said.

“Okay! Thank you for coming. We’re happy and excited for both of you. Please invite everyone to watch your new movie.”

So yun mga Kapamilya, iniimbitahan po namin kayo na manood ng Forevermore. Malapit na po itong ipalabas ngayong April 25, Monday, sa Channel 8. Gabi-gabi po ‘yan, 8 PM,” Drey stated.

“Yes po! At mapapanood din po ito sa Netflix. So sa mga hindi makakapanood sa TV, huwag po kayong mag-alala—available din po siya sa Netflix,” Zein added with a smile, facing the camera.

“Once again, Drey Gil and Zein Shion!”

Everyone clapped.

“Thank you so much for coming. We’re excited to watch your new movie,” Tito Boy said as he congratulated them and handed flowers to both.

“Maraming salamat sa inyong panonood. This is your Tito Boy, and this is… OPENNNN TALKKK!”

(Music plays.)

The show ended, and Drey and Zein spent a little time entertaining the fans and chatting with the crew before heading out with their management head.

AT THE PARKING LOT…

“Anyway, Tita Kathy, I’ll go ahead po. I need to stop by somewhere—I’ll just drive myself,” Drey said.

“Okay, but Drey, remember—maaga kayo bukas. Both of you. May fan talk kayo, 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Klaro ba?” Direk Kathy reminded.

“Opo, Tita. I’ll be there. Sige po, bye!”

Drey gave Direk Kathy a beso on the cheek, then did the same with Zein. “Ingat kayo.”

He got into his car and started the engine.