Melissa Ricks admitted that if she needs to choose between onscreen partner Matt Evans and reported suitor Jake Cuenca, she would choose Matt even if the latter is slowly making a good impression on her. “Eh si Matt naman araw-araw kaming magkasama, sayang naman. Alam ko everything about him. Para na siyang best friend ko… Si Jake new friend ko. Si Matt naman, sanay na ako na nandiyan siya. ‘Pag wala siya hinahanap ko siya. It’s like a package deal na kami lagi ang magkausap. Kapag may problema ako, siya ang nakakaalam. Kapag umiiyak ako siya ang nagpapatahan, at kapag may nang-aaway sa akin siya ang nagtatanggol,” revealed Melissa.

Melissa pointed out that it also means a lot to her that her strict parents trust Matt so much that they will only allow her to have kissing scenes with him. On the other hand, her parents find Jake a real gentleman, especially since he has already said that he is willing to wait for Melissa to be ready. Even if she is flattered and happy about the attention that Jake has shown her however, she would rather remain friends for now. “Sa ASAP lang kami nagkakasama. Nagtitext-text lang kami, minsan tumatawag siya sa akin. Pero other than that, we’re just becoming good friends, very close friends kami ngayon,” admitted Melissa.

As for her three-year onscreen partnership with Matt, she and Matt both believe that a real romance between them would complicate their work. “Hindi naman kailangang magkatuluyan ang magka-love team para maging successful. Like John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, meron naman silang [kanya-kanyang] love life. It’s how you work naman and it’s just being professional.”

Meanwhile, Melissa is keeping busy with one project after another. Even before she finished taping for Your Song Presents: Underage, the young actress was already working on the upcoming afternoon teleserye, Kambal sa Uma together with Shaina Magdayao. This is a far cry from the time she came out as a Star Circle Quest finalist in 2004, when work was few and far between and she was hardly noticed. “Nung time na ‘yon sabi ko sa sarili ko, isang araw papalakpakan din ako gagalingan ko talaga at ipapakita ko talaga. It’s better na slowly but surely. Thankful ako sa ABS-CBN na andami-daming binibigay na projects sa akin. I don’t want to let them down.”

While her career has been slowly picking up speed, Melissa keeps herself grounded, thanks to a supportive family and friends who constantly remind her to remain modest. “I don’t see the point kung magyayabang ka man. Gusto ko rin kasi, kung ako ‘yung fan gusto ko yung idol ko kakaibiganin din ako,” she shared.

—Interview by Bernie Franco

Find out the real score between Melissa and Matt straight from them! Text MELISSA ON to 2366 or MATT ON to 2366. (Available to Philippine residents only.)

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