++Articles++

Meant for Each Other
- by Jerome B. Gomez

They share the same bday, order the same food, and read each other's minds. John Prats and Heart Evangelista are more than "berks", they're-- ohmigod!-- soulmates?

They first met at a Star Magic Pictorial. He was already John Prats, a budding heartthrob who grew up in front of the camera. She was nobody, just a pretty rich girl who lived a sheltered life. "Kikay talaga, parang maarte," recalls John of Heart Evangelista of that initial encounter. "Hindi sya nakapag-pictorial ng walang salamin noon. Sabi ko, 'Ano ba 'to, tingin ng tingin sa salamin?' " She confesses to the kaartehan. " 'Yung arte ko kase 'yung nakakairitang arte," says Heart. "Talagang gano'n ako." Besides it wasn't exactly love-at-first-sight in Heart's part, even he fits the physical description of what he likes in a guy: mestizong chinito. "Ayoko siya no'n. Feeling ko, 'Yabang naman nito. Sino 'to? Isnabero siya nu'n sa'kin, 'di s'ya namamansin."

That was three years ago. Today, John, 18, Heart, 17, haven't only gotten wiser enough to know that while first impressions may be made in the first 11 seconds, they can also shatter in the next 11. After working together in the movie TRIP, the defunct weekly teen dramady G-MIK, and hundreds of magazine shoots and TV guestings, they have also gotten to know each other very well. Oh, and they are also one of the hottest loveteams in town. They're the selling point of the relatively new TV show BERKS which has already beaten its older competitor, CLICK, in the ratings game. Star Cinema is planning a John-Heart vehicle; and they are the stars of the new close-up commercial.

Expectedly, two have gotten oh-so-very-close. John says they tell each other everything. He tells Heart if shes being too maarte; she tells John if he's gaining a bit of weight. "Ang bilog-bilog mo," she would say, pinching his cheeks. He would do the same to her when he notices Heart is a bit plump than usual. So how did they get from calling each other maarte and mayabang to giving each other thoughtful gifts.

"You have to know a person talaga," says Heart. "Nag-mature na siguro kami. Siguro na-realize niya na maarte man ako, I'm nice naman."

"Lesser na'yung pagka-maarte niya," says John of his ka-loveteam. "Nagiging 'cowboy' na siya. Ako rin 'yun' nagsabi sa kanya na pag masyadong sobra, pangit na tingnan. Very open kami sa isa;t isa, wala kaming pretensions. 'Kung gusto mo ko, thanks you but if you don't like me, I don't care.' "

It is this oenness, this clear understanding of each other's quirks that is in the heart of their "chemistry and rapport," which John says are ther easons their friendship works, which unavoidably benefits their on-cam team-up. ABS-CBN think-tanks have already tried a couple of girls to be paired with John in the past but only Heart seemed to, well, click with the guy. After auditioning a big number of fresh faces to join the G-MIK cast two years ago, it was when Heart showed up that director Lauren Dyogi heaved a sigh of relief.

After a few guest appearences, she would become a regular in the show. And would form friendships with the cast, especially with her ka-loveteam.

"John is a gentleman," Heart says. "Pag sa taping, kunyari nagpapabili siya ng food, lagi nya kong binubulungan, 'Gusto mo ba ng pagkain?' He's very sweet. At saka kunyari sa ASAP or sa taping, pagbababa ng hagdan, inaalalayan ako niyan, kasi alam niya na clumsy ako, weak 'yung knees ko kaya lagi akong nadadapa. Hindi ko makakalimutan nu'ng BERKS taping tapos wala akong pera kasi nakalimutan kong humingi sa mommy ko, nilibre niya 'ko: breakfasy, lunch and dinner."

"Minsan, magkaawaykami nu'n sa G-MIK tapos nagpa-cute ako, sabi ko sakanya, bilhan mo naman ako ng teddy bear. Binili nya pero pag-uwi ko pa nakita, pinabigay nya sa assistant ko." They named him Pot-pot. Last Christmas, he bought her a jacket from his US trip because he knew she's never without one. Heart gave him Bruce Lee shirts from Hongkong. "Si Heart ang supplier ng mga sumbrero ko," says John.

The sweetest gifts from John, however, seems to be--are you ready for this?--paper roses. "Ang hilig-hilig nya alaga magpa-cute. Gawa siya nang gawa ng roses made out of tissue. Umaapaw na tuloy 'yung mga roses na tissue ko."

Is there anything she doesn't like about her ka-loveteam? "The funny thing is all his worst qualities, 'yun ang gusto ko eh, like, ;yung pagiging maharot niya. 'Yung pagka-kulit nya, childish, pero nasa lugar. Naisip ko parang, grabe, parang ang cute naman. 'Yung pagiging moddy nya kase maganda. Moddy siya, moddy ako."

Is there anything John dislikes about Heart? "Wala eh. Hindi sya nagmamataray. Pag tahimik kami ibig sabihin noon that's the time for ourselves. Pareho kaming makulit, lalo na pag nangungurot, kukurutin ka ng maliit na laiit. Pag naumpisahan, non-stop na'yan."

"Parehong kaming Aquarius," says Heart, "Nakakasakay kami sa isa't isa, hindi kami nagkaka-clash, swak na swak."

Heart has two thrilling stories about John. One day there was a huge plte filled with french fries on a table. Heart and John are about to dig in. "Ako kasi 'yung tipong namimili pa ng fries, dapat crispy pero mukhang malambot." After making her choice from the heap, she ug om and accidentally picked the end of the same piece of potato John picked.

Story # 2: Interior. Restaurant. "Same tayo order, loveteam tayo eh," said John. But Heart is taking too long to decide what to have so John finally decided to order ahead. But before he could say anything to the waiter, Heart had already said, "Boss, steak sandwich." "He looked at me," recalls Heart, "because that was the same thing on his mind." For some reason, they decide to order something else. This time they both said, "Isang hamburger," at the same time. "Unbelievable," says Heart now. "Parang scene na siya sa Berks pero ganun kami ka-intune."

This month a bigger scene, this time to occur in front of the cameras but no less meaningful than their private moments, will unfold in the John Prats-Heart Evangelista story. They're both celebrating their bdays on the 14th but this time, the gentleman that is is, John will be happy to play escort to the debutante Heart in a big to-do being put together by ABS-CBN for the young star. She's gong to be formally introduced to society, she's going to wear an Inno Sotto and the brightest young stars are sure to make an appearance. Her last dance will be with John.

One would be temted to ask if indeed the plantes aren't conspiring to conjure a beautiful story of young love in John Prats and Heart Evangelista. Surely with the stories these two tell, the idea of them being meant for each other has crossed their minds. But for now, they agree, having found each other is enough. That they have seemed to find their destiny is a comforting thought.

"I'm turning 18, siya 19, problema kase parang I'm scared," says Heart who has yet to experience a romantic relationship. "Kasi paano kung maging kami? Pano kung dahil masyado kaming bata may magkamali? Siguro the future pwede maging kami pa rin kase now okay naman ang lahat."

"Naniniwala kami sa destiny. Kung kami talaga, kame talaga," says John. Naiisip mo siyempre na, 'Ito na kayo 'yon?'