LJ Reyes said that the end of her six-year relationship with Paolo Contis was “so difficult” and “so painful,” stressing that it was not a mutual decision.
In an exclusive interview with Boy Abunda released on Tuesday, a very emotional LJ said she decided to speak up and set the record straight about some information that came out following the breakup.
“There are stories out there, medyo twisted na po yung facts. Ayoko po umabot sa punto na pinabayaan ko lang nasa public lang na ang di totoo.”
LJ recently flew to the US with her two kids, Aki and Summer, her child with Paolo.
“We left because I really need to get me and my kids out of the situation physically to help ourselves emotionally and mentally recover and rebuild as a small family.
“Somehow, kailangan ko pong ilayo yung mga bata kelangan po maprotektahan sila. Kelangan magkaro’n kami ng healthy at safe environment. Para sa mga bata yun, not just for me.”
She clarified that Paolo didn’t physically hurt the children.
She, however, refused to go into details, saying “ayoko pong may masabing hindi maganda. Ang gusto ko lang ‘wag magamit ang mga anak ko. Gusto ko lang po maintindihan ng publiko bakit ako umalis at ‘wag na gumawa ng iba’t ibang kwento na mutual or na itong lahat ay OK lang po yung mga nangyayari, hindi po eh.”
She also didn’t answer the questions of Boy if the breakup was caused by a third party and a money issue.
Nevertheless, she described the breakup as so difficult and so painful. “Siguro kung hindi malakas yung pananampalataya ko sa Panginoon, hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupulutin. Kung hindi matibay ang pagmamahal ko sa mga anak ko para maging motivation siya sa akin to stand up and wake up every day, hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupulutin.
“Sa totoo lang, kung ano man ‘yung third party na sinasabi nila, it’s actually the least of my concerns. Kaya po ako nag-decide mag-speak up is because ‘pag anak niyo na po ‘yung nagagawan ng mali, I think kailangan mong sabihin na hanggang dito lang.”
According to LJ, the past several months, she tried to keep the situation from her children and the public. “I never talked kasi gusto ko po na kung ano man ang pagdaanan namin bilang pamilya ko, gusto ko po sana na ‘yung Panginoon lang ‘yung kausap ko, kung sino man ‘yung involved, and never make it public sana. Pero it’s really been difficult the past several months.”
She hinted at the “real reason” behind the breakup. “The past two months have been revelation after revelation, and sa gabi po ang nagpapatulog lang sa akin is praise and worship songs. Minsan po binabangungot na ako kasi hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari yung mga bagay na nangyari, na parang hindi ko na po mahiwalay ‘yung reality sa mga bagay na nalaman ko na mga bagong information, revelation sa akin ng mga tao sa paligid ko, ‘yung mga na-uncover ko.”
She said she’s standing by what she found out as true, claiming she has some proof. She also she has cut off all communication lines with Paolo.
She stressed that the decision to break up was not mutual. “Kasi naniniwala ako na kapag mutual ang isang decision pareho kayong sumasang-ayon na hindi na nagwowork yung relationship. Hindi po eh.”
Asked who initiated the breakup, she said, “Tito Boy kasi matagal ko nang nararamdaman na nakahiwalay na siya sa amin. Ramdam na ramdam ko po ‘yun. Pero honestly po, ako po ‘yung nagsabi, na parang nasa ibang mundo na po siya. Parang pakiramdam ko, iniintay lang niya na manggaling sa akin.”
She narrated how much Paolo changed and was no longer the person that she fell in love with. “Madalas po siyang wala sa bahay (even if he was not working) opo. May excuse po siya. (It was strange) opo. He was very homebody. Kung pwede di umalis bahay, di siya umaalis sa bahay. Medyo nag-start po ‘yan late last year.”
A lot of times, she confronted him why he had changed. “Hindi ko na pi-feel yung dating ikaw, or yung treatment mo sa amin, ganyan, nagtatanong po ako regularly. (Sagot niya) akala mo lang yun. Idi-dismiss lang niya ang conversation.”
According to LJ, there were people who would message her “out of concern” about events and sightings, and that she would ask and try to confirm with Paolo but he would supposedly just deny everything.
“And it came to a point, friend of a friend na po… I think pag babae ka alam mo ata talaga or kahit sinong nagmamahal na tao, kahit anong gender, kapag magmahal ka, kapag kilala mo yung tao, alam mo.”
Asked if she still loves Paolo, LJ turned emotional again.
“Di ko po masagot yung tanong mo. Because all throughout this time that this was happening, grabe po talaga yung kapit ko sa Diyos na tulungan ako kasi di lang naman po sa akin yung pinagdadaanan. Meron din sa mga anak ko, sa anak ko.
“It’s been so difficult. I-try ko i-balance, saluhin lahat pero umabot na ako sa punto na ang dasal ko nalang, Lord, kayo na po bahala, di ko na po kaya, sabihin niyo sa akin ano ang dapat kong gawin at yun ang gawin ko.
“Itong mga past moths, nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos at pinaramandam Niya sa ‘kin na peace in my heart na alam kong sini-save niya kami ng mga bata… because He has better plans for us.”
She admitted that she could no longer think about the love that they once shared. “Hindi ko na maisip yung love. Six years po kami, di po madali kalimutan ang pagmamahal sa isang tao na six years mong nakasama. Hindi naman po ito parang companionship lang, yung relasyon namin naging malalim…
“Pero ngayon po, ang nararamdaman ko lang ay kelangan kong tutukan ang mga bata. Lahat ng ibang bigay, sarili ko, di ko po talaga iniisip ngayon.”
Asked during the interview if she was hoping that she and Paolo would still be okay, LJ said no.
“As much as I want a complete family, yung mga nangyari po, hindi ko kakayanin na maging malapit siya sa mga anak ko. Ganun po kasakit ang mga nangyari, ganun ka hirap. Hindi ko lang po masabi on air, in public, ano ang mga yun, di po kakayanin ng puso ng nanay ko na ibalik siya sa buhay ng mga bata.”
As of writing, Paolo has yet to issue a statement on LJ’s revelations.
