LJ Reyes takes a break in NY after painful breakup with Paolo Contis
In a tell-all interview, LJ Reyes told Boy Abunda details leading up to her breakup with live-in partner Paolo Contis.
LJ is currently in New York with son Aki and daughter Summer and is staying with her mother and sister.
She began by saying she came out in the open for an interview to tell her side of the story regarding the breakup.
"There are stories na medyo twisted na po 'yung facts. Ayoko po paabutin na pinabayaan ko lang.
"Si Aki, eleven na po siya, exposed na siya sa ibang tao. We left because I felt I really needed to get myself and my kids out of the situation physically. Para makatulong sa amin mentally and emotionally to recover, as a small family.
LJ then narrated how devastating her breakup was, "It was so difficult, it was so painful. Siguro kung hindi malakas 'yung pananampalataya ko sa Panginoon hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupulutin. Kung hindi matibay 'yung pagmamahal ko sa mga anak ko, para maging motivation siya sa akin na to stand up and wake up every day, hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupulutin.”
She revealed she needed to take a break and protect her kids from being exposed. "Kailangan na ma-protektahan ko sila. Kailangan po na magkaroon kami ng healthy and safe environment, not just for me. Para po sa mga bata 'yun, not just for me. Ako po, kaya ko po na kung ano ano 'yung marinig ko pero kapag mga bata na, kailangan ko po ilayo."
LJ said the past few months have been hard for her as her relationship with Paolo hit rock bottom. "It's been really difficult, the past several months...the past two months have been revelation after revelation.
"Minsan po binabangungot na ako kasi hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari ang mga nangyari.”
The actress clarified that the breakup was not mutual. "Hindi siya mutual. Naniniwala ako na kapag mutual ang isang desisyon pareho kayong sumasang-ayon na hindi na nag-wu-work 'yung relationship.”
The actress also mentioned she noticed a change in Paolo's behavior in the past months. He used to be a homebody, but recently was suddenly always out of the house.
"Ramdam na ramdam ko na iba na 'yung relationship. Matagal ko nang nararamdaman na nakahiwalay na siya samin. Parang nasa ibang mundo na po siya. Parang hinihintay niya na lang na manggaling sa akin. Madalas po siyang wala sa bahay..." LJ said as she fought back her tears.
Her suspicions grew that something was not right in the relationship when people who both knew her and Paolo would message her about seeing Paolo out, but when LJ would ask him about it, the actor allegedly denied it was him.
"Meron pong mga tao na out of concern, messaged me about events or sightings, pero I would ask, syempre po, laging walang confirmation.
"[Sabi niya] paano siya makikilala, naka-mask, naka-shield [siya]. May mga ganoong reasons.
"Kahit sinong taong nagmamahal, at kapag kilala mo 'yung tao, alam mo...
"All throughout this time that this is happening grabe 'yung kapit ko sa Diyos. Umabot sa ang dasal ko Lord kayo na po bahala hindi ko na po kaya.
'Yung anger ko, sinurrender ko na lang sa Diyos.
"'Pag nagmahal tayo, nagtitiwala tayo. 'Yung pagtitiwala ko binigay. Hindi ko lang inakala na masasaktan ako at ang mga bata.”
LJ admitted that she was confused with whose side to believe anymore. "Hanggang ngayon may mga bagay na hindi ko ma-connect kung alin 'yung facts at alin 'yung pinapaniwala sa akin. It's traumatizing, I hate to say the word pero litong-lito po ako.”
She also clarified that Paolo never physically hurt her son Aki and their daughter Summer. "Physically po hindi. Ayoko rin naman po na isipan nila ng ganon si Paolo."
When asked to compare how Paolo has changed, LJ answered, "Ang nakilala kong Paolo, maalaga, generous po siya. Kapag mahal niya ang isang tao, mahal niya, minsan lang hindi siya marunong mag-express.
“'Yung hindi ko kilalang Paolo [ngayon], kapag kausap ko siya parang lumulusot lang po. Sinabi ko rin po sa kanya 'yun, I feel so alone already.”
LJ said she is asking the public for prayers for her and her children as they go through the separation.
"Pagdasal niyo po kami ng mga bata at tulungan niyo po kaming makapagsimula ulit. Alam ko po na matutulungan niyo akong gawin 'yun. Tapusin na po natin itong issue na ito, ipagdasal niyo na lang po kami.”
Rumors of the couple's separation circulated after Paolo deleted photos of LJ and their family on social media.
Meanwhile, take a look at LJ Reyes's recent vacation with her kids: