MANILA – They are one of the best looking pairs on screen but JM de Guzman and Arci Munoz stressed they never thought of taking their friendship to the next level.

“Kasi best friend ko eh. Parang ang hirap kung pupunta kami sa ganung direksyon, ang hirap na ibalik na ang ganitong klaseng relationship namin as friends. Best friend ko ito eh,” Munoz said in an interview with Toni Gonzaga for the most recent episode of “I Feel U” which streamed on Sunday.

According to Munoz, she and de Guzman go way back and that nothing is worth risking their friendship for.

“Sobrang comfortable kay JM. Parang wala akong maitatago sa kanya. Kapag masama ang loob ko, siguro siya ang unang taong tatawagan ko bukod sa pamilya ko,” she said.

The two first met when they were college students at the University of the Philippines.

Munoz confessed she initially thought de Guzman was gay and she wanted to have a gay best friend. As it turns out, de Guzman wasn’t and he actually had a crush on Munoz back then.

“Hindi na po lumampas [sa friendship 'yung relationship namin]. Pero nung kabataan namin, crush ko po siya. Nung nasa college kami. Alam naman po niya 'yun tapos feel na feel niya. Umaligid-aligid lang ako noon,” he said.

In Munoz’s defense, the actress said she wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend at that time.

“Hatid-sundo ako nung college. Bawal kasi kailangan makatapos ng pag-aaral. Mahigpit 'yung daddy ko. Wala din talaga sa isip ko mag boyfriend noon,” she said.

When asked why he’s grateful for Munoz, de Guzman said: “Prangka po siya sa akin. Kung magsalita siya, diretso sa puso. Siguro sa pagkakilala niya sa akin, nase-sense na niya kung bad trip ako kahit malayo pa ako. Nandiyan siya lagi para i-lead ako pabalik sa positibo.”

Munoz returned the compliment saying she is thankful for de Guzman because he makes her life more bearable.

“Hindi niya nakalimutan 'yung times nung college days namin na halos kami lang din parati ang magksama. Thankful ako sa existence niya kasi napapagaan niya 'yung buhay ko,” she said.