Jennylyn: 'My decision is to move on sans Patrick'

"I think it's too late." That was how Jennylyn Mercado reacted when asked if she would give Patrick Garcia a second chance. Those were the words expressed by a teary-eyed but stoic-looking Jennylyn Mercado when Butch Francisco of StarTalk asked her if ever Patrick Garcia, Jennylyn's boyfriend, asks for a second chance. Trying to cope with everything is now the focus of Jennylyn as she faces the trials of pregnancy and of a relationship hanging by a thin thread. "Ako, mas nagiging mature and yung pananaw ko talaga dapat wide na," said Jennylyn. Butch then asked about what Jennylyn felt after she watched Patrick's interview in The Buzz last Sunday. The mention of Patrick's name rather gave Jennylyn a sad expression, but she answered almost automatically. "Siyempre nalungkot ako," Jennylyn confessed. "Tsaka nangibabaw yung gulat kasi akala ko tapos na. Yung unang reaction kasi nung napanood ko yung interview kasi was ‘Huh? Hindi pa rin sigurado kung sa 'yo ito?' Kasi 'pag sigurado ka, puwede mong sabihin na, ‘Sa akin ‘to! Tapos!' Kasi Valentine's, Tito Butch, nakapag-usap naman kami [Patrick]. Bakit hindi namin na-tackle yung mga personal plans sa buhay? Lumabas na lang ako, at sabi niya, ‘Tapos na, wala nang interviews.' ‘Of course,' sabi ko. ‘Basta ako, tapos na.'" "Nung nag-usap tayo, this was the third week of January," Butch followed. "Pagkatapos, di ba, meron pa tayong sit [interview] noon with you and Patrick. Ano ang nangyari after that? Nagkita pa ba kayo ulit?" "Nagkita kami nung mismong concert [February 2]," related Jennylyn. "Then after the concert, yun na." "Still, komu-contact ka at hindi sumasagot?" Butch asked. "Trying to reach him," Jennylyn admitted. "Wala. Tumatawag ako at nagt-text ako, tapos wala... Mas lalo lang nakakasama ng loob 'pag hindi ka pinapansin. Tigil na lang. Kung ayaw, e, huwag na lang." How was Jen's Valentine's? "Actually nung Valentine's, nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa," the young actress admitted. "Para kaming lahat sa bahay, e, ‘Hay wala tayong date.' Siyempre, nalungkot kami na parang ‘Hay naku, dito lang tayo sa bahay. Labas na lang tayo.' After lunch yata tumawag siya [Patrick] at nag-invite manood ng sine o kumain sa labas. In-accept ko naman yung invitation." "Hindi ka ba nagtampo, tipong ‘Bakit ngayon ka lang tumawag?'" Butch jokingly asked. Jennylyn laughed, "Parang walang nangyari." Knowing that humor might help Jen relax, Butch smiled, and then asked, "Pero natuwa ka?" "Siyempre naman po!" Jennylyn exclaimed. "Natuwa ako kasi hindi naman niya po ako kinalimutan. Nagkita kami doon sa Greenhills, sa Promenade. Dinner, ganoon." "Ano ang pick-up ninyo nung dinner?" Butch inquired. "Napag-usapan lang namin na stop na muna mga interview, mga showbiz things, ganyan," Jennylyn answered. "Nag-agree siya at nag-agree na din ako. Sabi ko, ‘Ayoko na din magsalita, dahil marami na rin ang nasaktan. Marami na rin issues ang naglalabasan. Ayoko na rin magsalita.' After naming mag-usap, e, Sunday nakita ko yung interview [sa The Buzz]." "Napag-usapan n'yo ang ceasefire sa mga interviews ninyo," Butch immediately followed, "pero napag-usapan n'yo ba ang tungkol sa inyo?" "Hindi po," was all Jennylyn could muster to say. "Nobody bothered to bring that up? Para bang, ‘Ano na bang lagay natin dalawa ngayon?'" Butch offered. Getting a silence on Jen's part, he quickly followed, "Were you expecting?" "No," Jennylyn said, "Kasi sana kung mag-e-expect ako, e, sana noon pa, e, ginawa na niya yun. Ang dami ko kasing ine-expect kasi, e, na parang sana, i-text ako nun, tawagan ako nun, o i-approach ako nun para kausapin. Pero lagi lagi akong nate-turn down. Parang ayoko na lang." "In other words, in your heart of hearts, ang alam mo talaga, e, tapos na kayo?" Butch asked. "Hanging," she replied. "Hindi mo alam kung kayo pa ba, or hinihintay niya na lang ba na sabihin ko na ayaw ko na, kasi ayaw niya na sa kanya manggagaling... Ang dami-daming naglalaro sa isip ko. Hindi ko talaga alam, wala akong idea. Parang, ‘Ano ba talaga gusto nito? Anong purpose niya, bakit hindi niya ako kinakausap? Bakit hindi niya ako tinatawagan, o bakit hindi niya ako tine-text, o hindi ako dinadalaw.' Parang ang gulo." In her end, why wouldn't she decide? "Nakapag-decide na rin ako," Jennylyn revealed, "My decision is to move on, with or without Patrick. Sinabi ko na rin sa kanya noon, sana na-receive niya. Nag-text ako sa kanya, last Sunday [After Patrick's interview]." THE MARK HERRAS CONNECTION. There have been rumors surrounding Jen's pregnancy about Mark Herras being the real father of the child. One rumor suggested that Jen and Mark were seen together in the President's Tower last December 6, 2007. An exasperated Jennylyn answered, "Meron akong narinig, December 10. Meron naman akong narinig, December 11, December 6. Parang sa date pa lang, inconsistent na, e. Parang, ‘Huh, sino ba source n'yo?' Hindi naman tama, na nakita ba talaga ako, or ako ba talaga yung kasama ni Mark? Baka naman hindi ako, kamukha ko lang?" Then to prove her point, Jen related on where she actually was during those days. "December 4, nasa Japan ako noon. May show ako nun," she said. In Mark's defense, Jennylyn pleaded, "Kawawa naman yung tao, walang kamalay-malay na parang... Three years na kami hiwalay ni Mark, tapos nadadamay siya. Out of nowhere biglang susulpot, idadamay. Kawawa naman yung tao, unfair naman din sa kanya. Lalo na sa akin." Mark on his part, showed sympathy to his ex and fellow StarStruck winner. "Nakakaawa siya, kasi gusto kong tumulong at napasama pa yung tulong ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naging ganoon. Ang isipin na lag ni Jen ay yung baby niya," Mark said. THE GARCIA FAMILY. Jennylyn has always been on the good side of Patrick's family. But because of the current and tense situation, and the recent interviews, the relationship might have turned sour. "Si Tita Beng [Patrick's mother] kasi... She's very nice naman to me. Minsan kasi hindi ako lumalapit sa kanya para humingi ng tulong [whenever she and Patrick fight], at hindi naman niya alam kung ano mga away namin, the past few months. Naiintindihan ko din ang part niya, she's just protecting her son," Jennylyn explained. On the term ‘protecting her son,' a dismayed Jennylyn followed, "Sobrang na hurt ako, kasi akala ko nung una, e, si Pat lang ang hindi naniniwala, pati pala yung mom niya. Para sa akin, e, bigyan n'yo naman ako ng dignity." Butch asked: "Bakit nila ginagawa yun, ang pagku-question? Is it tinatakasan ang responsibilidad?" "Hindi ko alam, e," Jennylyn admitted. "Kasi hindi naman puwede gawing reason yung ako ang unang naglabas ng ganito, ganyan. Until may lumabas na issue from their side, e, saka na ulit ako nagsalita. 'Tapos, hindi rin puwede gawing reason ang lumalabas na issue about sa amin ni Mark, about kung sino ang totoong tatay, kung bakit ginagamit ko ang show business para sabihin kung ano mga problema and everything." EDUCATIONAL AND INSURANCE PLAN. The generous offer of Patrick's mother of educational and insurance plan for the baby after her son's appearance on The Buzz might've led to Jennylyn thinking. She, however, expressed her deepest thanks. "I want to say ‘thank you' to Tita Beng," Jennylyn respectfully said. "Kasi nagbigay siya ng educational plan para sa baby. But, parang, kung hindi sila sigurado kung kay Patrick ito, e, bakit kayo magbibigay?" About this educational and insurance plan, did a meeting transpired between the two camps? Jennylyn answered, "Yes, Tita Beng texted me na ‘ASAP, you have to sign this, ASAP.'" Jennylyn also revealed that her manager Becky Aguila was the one who went to Patrick's mom for the said plans, since Jennylyn herself can't face Mrs. Garcia during those times. Aside from that, Jennylyn also expressed her decision that she really didn't need it. "Hindi ko pa naman kailangan," explained Jennylyn. "Kasi three months pa lang ako at hindi pa naman natin alam kung ano mangyayari, and parang out of nowhere, e, bigla na lang sumulpot ang educational plan. Parang how strange, nagsasabi sila ng negative about me 'tapos biglang meron ganito." Was the move meant as something to say that Patrick didn't leave her with nothing? What's Jennylyn's take on this? "Hindi ko tinanggap," was all Jennylyn could say. Why? "Ang hirap naman na pipirmahan ko yun na hindi kami okay. Inisip ko din na bakit kailangan madaliin? Hindi ko naman kailangan ng tulong, e. Kumbaga, hindi ko naman kailangan ng financial support nila or anything. Ang kailangan ko is Patrick, who will take care of me, love me, and support me." At this point, is she still expecting Patrick to bear responsibility for the baby? "Ngayon, hindi na po," Jennylyn bluntly said. "I STILL LOVE PATRICK." When asked whether she still loves Patrick or does she love Patrick because of the baby, this was Jennylyn's judgment: "Kailangan ko siya dahil mahal ko siya. Kailangan din siya ng baby ko. Kailangan din niya magkaroon ng family. Ayoko naman yung nangyari sa kanya yung nangyari sa akin na broken family, ganoon. Gusto ko naman na maging masaya." Her message to the Garcia family? "Sorry sa lahat ng mga nangyari, lahat ng mga gulo. Hindi ko intention na guluhin kayo. And, thank you sa lahat ng support ninyo, lalo na si Cheks [Cheska Garcia, Patrick's sister]. Mahal ko po kayo." CHESKA REACTS. On a separate interview with Cheska, she calmly explains her family's side on some of Jennylyn’s statements. First was about Jennylyn not being able to contact Patrick. "Jennylyn said that she can talk to Patrick anytime," Cheska said. "And if ever na hindi niya ma-reach si Patrick, I'm the one she calls. Even when they were together, and even before she was pregnant, e, 'pag nag-aaway sila ni Pat, sinusundo pa nila ako kung saan man ako para umupo doon at mag-referee sa kanilang dalawa. "When Jen called me up to tell me she was pregnant, without a doubt I did not question if it was his. That was the least thing in my head. I told her, ‘Call up my mom. Huwag kang matakot.' Kasi nanay ‘yan, eh. Alam niya kung ano gagawin," Cheska narrated. "Kahit mag-backtrack kayo ng mga interviews ni Pat. Hangga't hindi sinasabi ni Pat na ‘That's not my baby,' e, you have no right to say that he said that. It's just black and white. Either you say, ‘It's not mine,' or ‘It's mine.' Patrick has never [said] ‘It's not mine.' He has always said, ‘It's my baby, it's mine.' Now bahala na ka na on how you want to understand it. And even if you backtrack with my interview and my mom's interview, my mom never said, ‘It's not his. "Sa mga taong nagpilit na sirain silang dalawa ni Patrick, sa mga taong pilit na nilalagyan ng intriga yung relasyon nila, e, sana tumigil na kayo." On the Educational and Insurance plan. "That was to just to secure that in case anything happens to Patrick, there's something set aside for the baby. This is Patrick's responsibility. He'll do his responsibility because this is his child." Cheska's reassurance to Jennylyn. "I just hope na you realize na we never doubted the baby. Ako in my heart, eh I never doubted and I know in Patrick's heart that he's never doubted and I know in my mom's heart that she's never doubted. For me, I will set aside what I feel [about the issue] so that maayos lang ito." - Philippine Entertainment Portal