Alden Richards and Julie Anne San Jose. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA, Instagram/@myjaps

Alden Richards has spoken up for the first time about his then-relationship with fellow Kapuso celebrity Julie Anne San Jose, revealing that the latter almost became his girlfriend.

The actor made this revelation in an interview with King of Talk Boy Abunda in an episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” as seen on GMA’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The topic was brought up after Abunda asked Richards to name who among the celebrities he was linked to in the past he almost had a romantic relationship with.

“Dalawa po, si Winwyn [Marquez] and si Julie [Anne San Jose],” he answered. (There were two, Winwyn and Julie.)

Richards said that he and Marquez were busy with work at the time, which was the reason their relationship did not work out. He then talked about San Jose and admitted that he was to blame why they stopped seeing each other at the time.

“It was my fault po. I decided to mag-focus na lang talaga muna sa work and hiningi ko po ‘yun ng sorry sa kanya… naiwan ko po siya,” he stated. “I never told anyone about this. ‘Yung part po kasi kay Julie Anne, ‘yun ‘yung pinakamabigat.”

(It was my fault. I decided to focus on work at the time and I asked her forgiveness for that. I left her. I never told anyone about this [because] that part with Julie Anne was the hardest.)

Richards narrated the moment he apologized to San Jose during a rehearsal for the now-defunct variety show “Sunday PinaSaya,” where they had the chance to work together again

Rainy Friday expected in Luzon, fair weather in Visayas, MindanaoRainy Friday expected in Luzon, fair weather in Visayas, Mindanao

“Since the time that we separated, ang tagal naming hindi nag-usap, almost seven years. Naniniwala akong time heals everything and mahirap ipilit na gusto mong magkaayos kayo pero ‘yung panahon hindi pa tama,” he said.

(Since the time that we separated, we had not talked to each other for almost seven years. I believe that time heals everything and it is hard to force things to be OK when it is not yet the right time.)

“‘I’m really sorry for what happened. Iniwan kita (I left you) and there’s no one to blame but me. Sana napatawad mo na ako (I hope you have forgiven me),’” Richards recalled telling San Jose at the time. “Pagkatapos ng usapan na ‘yon, may ibang relief sa kalooban na parang for the longest time iniiwasan ko siya.” (With that conversation, I felt a different kind of relief [after] avoiding her for the longest time.)

Richards then noted that he and San Jose have already settled the past between them and that they are now “very much good friends.”