
Mga Batang Riles actor Raheel Bhyria responded to questions about whether he's courting Jillian Ward, whom he first worked with on Abot-Kamay na Pangarap.
In Thursday's episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, the “Sitio Liwanag” boys--Miguel Tanfelix, Kokoy de Santos, Raheel Bhyria, Anton Vinzon, and Bruce Roeland--were featured as guests.
"Actually, bago pumasok si Jillian sa Mga Batang Riles, grabe 'yung bonding namin eh. Grabe. As in, laging sama-sama kami. Action, after ng fights, hindi kami maghiwalay kahit pack-up ng isa, maghihintay 'yan," Kokoy began.
However, Kokoy said Raheel seemed to change after Jillian joined the set.
"Dumating si Jillian, Tito Boy. Etsapuwera [na] kami. Noong time na 'yon, okay lang, binibigyan namin siya ng time," he added.
Kokoy even teased Raheel for being noticeably different once he got close to Jillian.
"Ta's bigla siyang lumapit sa 'min, 'Boy, na-miss ko kayo, ah.' Nakakatampo, pare," Kokoy joked.
Raheel, however, clarified that he didn't mean to ignore his friends and explained what looked like “special treatment” toward Jillian.
"Hindi ko kayo initsepwera. Ano kasi siya eh, bisita natin, 'di ba? Hospitality. Kailangan nating iparamdam sa kaniya, na parang komportable po siya at safe po siya," Raheel explained.
Tito Boy then asked him directly if he was courting the young actress.
"Hindi po ako nanliligaw. Pero ang ginawa ko po is, bilang respeto po kay Jillian, lalo na tinanggap niya po ako nang maganda at maayos sa Abot-Kamay, gusto ko rin po i-return 'yung favor," Raheel said.
In a previous interview on 24 Oras, Jillian and Raheel shared that they had grown closer both on and off cam while working on the series.
According to Jillian, the two are “very good friends.”
Don't miss the explosive finale of Mga Batang Riles this Friday at 8:50 p.m. on GMA Prime.
Related gallery: Meet Kapuso heartthrob, Fil-Pakistani Raheel Bhyria