MANILA -- "No, of course not!" This was Melissa Ricks' quick response when asked if she has managed to become friends again with Jake Cuenca, with whom she admittedly had a "bad break-up" in 2011.
The 23-year-old actress appeared cheerful on Friday as she discussed her six-week vacation in the United States, as well as her "amicable" separation from former "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate Paul Jake Castillo.
Ricks visibly shifted dispositions, however, when Cuenca's name was brought up, as the actor supposedly said in a recent interview that he is "trying to fix things" with the actress.
Asked to address the supposed statement from the actor, Ricks triggered laughter when she appeared to compose herself.
Taking a deep breath, the actress said, "Paano ba natin masasabi sa magandang paraan?"
"Kasi ako, if you're going to say something, you better just say it truthfully. Hindi 'yung magsasabi ka lang para maganda ka tingnan ng tao, or so you seem like a better person. If you are doing something, you don't have to tell other people or tell the whole world before you do it," Ricks said.
Since the former "Walang Hangan" actress confirmed her break-up with Cuenca in May 2011, she has been firm on refusing to reveal the cause of their separation.
While Cuenca acknowledged "disputes" with Ricks in an interview in July, the actor otherwise only had good words for the former teen star.
Recalling his tumultuous romance with Ricks, Cuenca said, "Isang katangian naman ni Mel, she's girlfriend material, super. Kung sino man ang lalaki na sumunod sa akin, o kung sino man naging boyfriend niya, napakswerte nila."
Explaining why they broke up, the actor continued, "It's just, in my time, maybe I wasn't mature enough to have handled a relationship like that... But despite our disputes, never did I say anything bad about her."
