More than two decades after becoming one of the most iconic loveteams of the early 2000s, Heart Evangelista and John Prats reunited to revisit the genuine love, friendship, and memories they shared during their younger years, while candidly opening up about the lives they lived after their breakup and the feelings they never got to tell each other until now.
The former couple, best remembered for their roles as Missy and Yuan in the youth-oriented ABS-CBN series G-Mik, reflected on how their onscreen chemistry naturally blossomed into a real-life romance that became unforgettable for many fans of their generation.
During the candid interview on Heart World Season 2, Heart immediately admitted that John was her very first crush. She even revealed that despite not originally being part of G-Mik, she intentionally auditioned because she wanted to become John’s loveteam partner.
John shared that what made their pairing special was how natural everything felt between them, saying their chemistry was never forced. Both admitted that their years together, both as a loveteam and as a real-life couple, remained among the most genuine moments of their youth.
As she listened to John openly appreciate their past together, Heart admitted that it was the first time she had heard him express those feelings after all these years.
“During that time because I was so young, I never heard the things that you said to me now and how much you appreciate it. Parang feeling ko, never naibalik sa akin ‘yung tears, ‘yung feeling ko ng first love... That’s why whenever I’m being interviewed I don’t label it. I don’t know if it’s being defensive,” said Heart.
John then explained that at the time, he simply did not know how to express what he truly felt because Heart was his first serious relationship.
“Syempre, ‘pag bata ka hindi mo naman alam kung paano mo ie-express [yung feelings mo] kasi first girlfriend ko si Heart. Wala kasi akong idea paano maging boyfriend,” said John.
“Nung naging kami, sobrang first time lahat. First time lahat ng pakiramdam, so hindi ko alam paano ko ibabalik sa kaniya,” he continued.
The two fondly recalled how they spent almost every day together during the peak of their loveteam, constantly seeing each other during tapings and shoots until they naturally became each other’s comfort zone.
Looking back now with maturity and wisdom, John admitted there were many things he wished he had said earlier.
“Sorry kung hindi ko nasasabi noong time na ‘yun. Ngayon na tumanda na tayo, nagkaroon na tayo kahit papaano ng wisdom in our life, doon ka nakakapag-look back and appreciate those things... Sa lahat ng naging ex-girlfriend ko, kay Heart ako walang masasabi kasi siya talaga ‘yung very giving, understanding, thoughtful,” John maintained.
The former loveteam also laughed while recalling the scrapbooks they once kept together containing memories from their relationship. But after their breakup, both admitted they could not bear to keep them.
“Pinunit ko ‘yung scrapbook natin kaya hindi ko nadala,” said Heart.
“Ako nga sinunog ko eh. Kasi siyempre sobrang sakit...Sabi ko ‘Okay na ko!’ pagbalik ko sa kwarto, ‘Bakit hindi pa rin?’ May ganon ako,” John revealed.
Heart later admitted she was surprised to learn during the interview that John had quietly struggled after their breakup, something she never knew at the time.
“When [the loveteam] became officially hot, that’s when we broke up, at our peak,” Heart recalled.
John then shared that after their separation, he entered what he described as his “survival era” after being one of the most sought-after child stars since the 90s.
“I was on my own, bumalik ako sa dancing nung time na ‘yun. Doon na nagsimula ‘yung survival era ko. I had to do everything to survive. It was really hard because ‘yung rock mo before wala na eh. ‘Yun na ‘yung love team ko na naging last kasi sabi ko ayoko na because nung nakikita ko siya, hindi na pareho,” John admitted.
Hearing this deeply affected Heart, who said she would have helped him had she known what he was going through at the time.
“That really hit me a lot because more than anything, he was family to me. If I had known it was survival mode [for] somebody I grew up with and I loved so purely, we would have helped each other the way he helped me in the beginning of my career,” she said.
“Sobrang umiyak ako sa kotse after ng interview kasi hindi ko talaga akalain na sasabihin niya na he was in survival mode,” she continued.
The two also reflected on the moment they officially decided to part ways during a stay at a resort.
“Doon kami nag-part ways. We were a love team for three to four years, and I was young. Dumating ako sa point na ‘Ito na ba yun? Kami na ba talaga?’” John recalled.
“We wanted space,” said Heart. “Tapos nung binigay niya, after a week, doon ko na-realize na hindi ko pala kaya. And then, ‘yun ‘yung biggest turning point talaga na noong ako na ‘yung babalik, ayaw na niya. Hindi na niya ako gustong maka-work. Iba na,” John expressed.
Despite everything they went through, both Heart and John emphasized that their friendship remained intact throughout the years.
At one point, John apologized to their loyal fans, admitting he was the one who ended their loveteam. Heart, however, immediately reassured him that no matter what happened, he would always remain an important part of her life.
Toward the end of the interview, both became emotional as they thanked each other for preserving their friendship despite their failed romance.
“This is a forever friendship. ‘Yun yung ‘sinabi ko kay Angelica (Panganiban). Sabi ko sa kaniya, ‘Kahit anong mangyari, forever ko kayong mahal eh’,”Heart expressed.
John replied, saying, “Grabe naman ‘yun. Thank you, Hearty. Thank you so much. Hindi ka mawawala sa buhay ko because malaki ‘yung part mo sa journey ko.”
With their recent reunion, Heart expressed how John will remain a constant person in her life. “I think this is the beauty of it kasi we were friends first before anything else kaya walang masisira doon. As in forever and ever.”
”I feel like na-heal ako,” Heart added.
Now, both have happily moved forward with their respective families. John is married to actress Isabel Oli with whom he shares three children, while Heart is married to Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.