(From left) Kim Chiu, Jake Ejercito. Image: Twitter/@ABSCBNpr

Jake Ejercito is now enjoying leading man status with Kim Chiu, but he confessed that he used to be a little intimidated by her before they were paired in the series “’Fit Check: Confessions of an Ukay Queen.”

Speaking at a media junket, where Chiu and his co-stars Kylie Versoza, Frenchie Dy, and Lie Reposposa were present, Ejercito admitted that he was “very reserved” and was awestruck by her during the filming of the series, which didn’t go unnoticed by the actress.

“Noong una talaga, kasi first time talaga namin ni Kim [Chiu] mag-meet dito. Hindi pa kami magkakilala prior to this project. [Kaya] initially talaga, na-starstruck ako kay Kim eh, as the multimedia idol of the country. So talagang nahiya ako. I was very reserved,” he said.

(It was my first time meeting Kim Chiu. We didn’t know each other prior to this project. So initially, I was starstruck by Kim, as the multimedia idol of the country. So I was very shy. I was very reserved.)

The actor, who said having “workshops” with Chiu helped break the ice between them, then noted that his leading lady was the one who approached him first.

“[Kim Chiu and I] did workshops, the two of us lang. And then a bigger workshop with everyone else,” he said. “I think napansin din ni Kim [‘yung pagiging reserved ko]. Sabi niya, ‘Bakit napaka-mahiyain mo naman?’”

(Kim Chiu and I did workshops, just the two of us. And then a bigger workshop with everyone else. I think Kim noticed me being reserved, so she asked, “Why are you so shy?”)

Chiu then agreed with her leading man’s statement, as she joked about Ejercito having such a thing as a “Great Wall of Jake” until he eventually opened up to her. But when asked about how she approached the actor, she said that she just kept on joking around with him during takes.

“Paano ko ginawang at home [si Jake Ejercito] sa’kin? Come home to me,” she said in jest, while laughing. At the time, the press couldn’t help but laugh along with Chiu as well.

“Ganito lang, biruan lang. Binibiro ko lang siya lagi para matawa naman siya. Hindi naman ako nangangagat. Gan’un lang, mga simpleng jokes, banatan lang. Tapos d’un naman sa set, barkadahan 101 naman kami. Kaya masaya naman talaga,” she continued.

(How did I make Jake Ejercito feel at home? Come home to me. Just like this, I joke around with him. I tease him a lot so I can make him laugh. I don’t bite. Just like this, I use simple jokes and funny remarks. Then with the set, we’re like a group of friends. So it was really a happy time.)

Ejercito also described Chiu as someone who brought “good vibes” in the set, as he likened her behind-the-scenes persona to her energetic personality in the noontime show “It’s Showtime,” where she serves as one of the mainstay hosts.

“Nag-good vibes lang siya. Never bumababa ang energy. Everyday every night, parang kami nasa ‘Showtime’ and it’s really contagious. Nakakahawa ang energy niya. I had no idea [she was like that] na kahit pala in real life, bubbly siyang tao,” he said.

(She exudes good vibes. Her energy never went down. Everyday, every night, it’s like we’re on the set of “It’s Showtime” and it’s really contagious. Her energy is infectious. I had no idea she was like that even in real life, she’s a bubbly person.)

“Fit Check” tells the story of Melanie (Kim Chiu), a fashion designer with an eye for ukay-ukay or secondhand pieces, who works under the helm of young executive Chris (Jake Ejercito) in the cutthroat fashion industry.