Was there a third party involved? Did the couple break up over money? Will LJ Reyes ever return to the Philippines?
These were among the questions asked by King of Talk Boy Abunda to Kapuso actress LJ, whose relationship woes got publicized recently, during her guest appearance in "The Interviewer."
Note that rumors about LJ and her longtime partner Paolo Contis, not being chummy anymore, started with the comedian-actor supposedly unfollowing LJ on Instagram.
Paolo also removed photos of the mother of his daughter, Summer, and the latter’s son with Paulo Avelino, Aki, in his feed.
Later, Paolo's manager, veteran showbiz scribe Lolit Solis confirmed the break up of the couple, relating it's a matter of "outgrowing" relationship.
However, LJ said in a tell-all interview that the split wasn't a "mutual" decision, contrary to what has been reported the past days.
According to her, things are mutual if both parties "agreed" that the relationship no longer works.
LJ pointed out that their relationship, being on the rocks, started late last year. She tried her best to fight for their family until she realized she could no longer save it anymore.
"Kasi matagal ko ng nararamdaman na parang nakahiwalay na siya sa amin. Ramdam na ramdam ko po yun. Pero honestly po, ako po yung nagsabi (na maghiwalay na kami). Parang nasa ibang mundo na po siya. At parang pakiramdam ko po, inaantay niya lang na manggaling sa akin."
She shared their issue started after the homebody Paolo began often leaving their home.
And that time, with an instinct that something wrong is going on, LJ confronted her partner of six years. But the latter would come up with some "excuses" or would "dismissed" their conversation.
Later, a lot of people sent LJ some "stories" and "proofs" about Paolo's "events" or "sightings."
LJ deemed those days as "traumatizing."
She admitted feeling lost and confused between "reality" and "facts."
"Nahihirapan pa rin po akong isipin kung alin yung totoo. Alin yung hindi totoo. Paano nangyari yung mga bagay na nangyari. Paano ko po-protektahan yung mga anak ko," she said, without going into details.
The seasoned TV host then asked the actress if she wanted to find out the "truth."
"Ayoko po siyang (Paolo) makausap," she declared.
LJ related that she doesn't want to get "manipulated" again after she digested all the information she got the past two, three months.
The Kapuso star pointed out how despite that, she still tried to save their relationship.
According to her, few days after their break up, she asked Paolo if he could take them back.
"…na realize ko na parang hindi pwedeng ganito. May mga bata. Nagbaba po ako ng pride kahit alam kong ako po yung nasasaktan. Titiisin ko po yun para sa mga bata. Kasi inisip ko, baka kailangan nila ng complete family. Tinanong ko siya: 'If you want to take us back?' Pero hindi na daw."
LJ said she was holding everything together for her children.
"Kung wala naman pong mga batang involved okay lang naman po. Hindi ko po ipipilit yung sarili ko. Ang sa akin lang din po, kung ayaw mo na, basta sana okay yung mga bata."
Is she hopeful that they would be reunited?
"Hindi po. As much as I really want a complete family, yung mga nangyari po, hindi ko po kakayanin na maging malapit siya sa mga anak ko… Ganun po kasakit yung mga nangyari, ganun po kahirap. Hindi ko lang po masabi on air, in public kung ano yung mga yun, pero hindi po kakayanin ng pusong nanay ko na ibalik siya sa buhay ng mga bata," she answered.
"Hindi po madaling kalimutan. Alam kong kailangan ko pong magpatawad pero hindi po madaling kalimutan. At hindi siya dapat kalimutan, Tito Boy."
Meanwhile, the host then asked LJ if there was money and third party involved, but the actress was in long silence then interjected: "I think po marami pong makakasagot niyan, kahit hindi po ako sumagot… Basta, priority ko po, yung welfare ng mga bata."
The veteran actress is not yet sure if she and her kids would stay in New York with her family for good.