He doesn’t impose do’s and don’ts on her, from the way she dresses up to her choice of roles or songs. She finds him lovable while admitting he doesn’t look his best when sweating it out in the gym treadmill.

Dingdong Dantes and Karylle have transcended the initial giddy, rose-colored view of romance and are into the next, deeper stage. This is where they discover that they still can’t wait to cuddle up to each other, after discovering each other’s not-so-appealing side. In other words, it’s getting more serious this time.

“We respect each other,” Dingdong explains how they’ve managed to stay together despite rumors (which he denied) that he has a child by former girlfriend Antoinette Taus.

The issue has not triggered a major fight between them. In fact, Dingdong and Karylle say they have yet to have a heated exchange of stinging words.

Sources of friction are petty, so far. Dingdong insists Karylle spends too much time on her beloved Shih Tzu. Karylle did something about her jealousy over Dingdong’s obsession with the gym by taking the if-you-can’t-beat-‘em-join-‘em attitude.

That’s when she discovered the guy many girls (and gays) swoon over doesn’t look that appealing all the time, not when sweat is glistening all over his muscular body. But that’s okay. Even this will not diminish her high regard for him.

“I think he’s just great as Marco, a man in love with a woman from the past (played by Iza Calzado) in Moments of Love (produced by GMA Films),” gushes Karylle.

She herself is part of the cast, playing Lianne, a woman in love with Marco in the present but who is only confined to the background.

The movie, earmarked for international release, may cast the real-life sweethearts. But it doesn’t package them as a loveteam but as individual actors.

Dingdong’s character is in love with Iza’s. The story starts from there. And the romantic angle is trained on them.

No problem with that, Dingdong and Karylle chorus.

“We’ve had separate careers ever since,” she points out. “In fact, after the movie, I plan to go back to my album.”

“Who knows,” adds the optimistic Dingdong. “It could also work the other way. People might just see how effective we can be together and this will boost our stock as a pair.”

They know that being cast as individual actors is a risk. Fans of their loveteam will see Dingdong and Karylle in a different light. But all is fair in love and work, says Karylle.

“It’s easy to make people feel giddy over romantic scenes. The challenge lies in showing how serious you are in dramatic roles,” she explains.

Besides, Dingdong and Karylle are past the teenybopper stage and are ripe for more serious individual roles. Dingdong sheds his matinee idol looks by turning pathetic as he pines for a lost love. Goodbye, pretty boy image!

“Dingdong doesn’t think he’s handsome,” Karylle points out. “That’s why I tease him by saying more people will have a crush on him the moment they see his (Hanford) billboard all over town.”

Dingdong has no quarrel about that. There are more important things than looks, he stresses.

One of them is getting over his aversion to books by reading one with Karylle.

“We already watched so many videos together. So one time, I found one of my mom’s (Zsa Zsa Padilla’s) little books and we read it together,” Karylle reveals with pride.

She herself is not exactly a book aficionado like her mom, who orders the latest books on line. But she soon might, judging by the way her mom subtly encourages her to read through sheer example.

Not all moments are dead serious between them though. Dingdong has a kooky side which he is not afraid to show to Karylle.

“It was during a taping break. Bored, Dingdong, still in his stately king costume, danced around without a care in the world,” relates Karylle.

Instead of getting turned off, she appreciated her boyfriend’s efforts to show his real self to her. It even endeared Dingdong to Karylle a lot more.

The solid-as-a-rock relationship made reporters ask Zsa Zsa if she’s ready for the time when Dingdong will pop the question to Karylle. The horrified mom was shocked and speechless for five seconds.

“Let the fates decide,” Dingdong comments cryptically while Karylle smiles.

The couple is in no rush. “We’d like to establish our careers first before thinking about other things,” he clarifies.