IN 2022, Sue Ramirez and Diego Loyzaga were paired for the first time in the film, “How To Love Mr. Heartless,” where they played young university students. It was still the time of the pandemic.

“Our film was not even shown in theaters at that time yet,” lamented Sue.

Their second team-up in director Gino M. Santos’ forthcoming “In Between,” sees them portraying more mature roles but still have a lot to learn about life and love.

Pairing them together again was never a daunting task. They knew each other and worked together regularly as co-hosts in “ASAP Chill Out.”

“That was a long time ago,” shared Sue. “So everytime that we see each other, nothing was changed. We’re still the same. Nagkukulitan pa rin kami. That’s what’s nice about us.”

While their previous roles in “How To Love Mr. Heartless” were more wholesome, Sue and Diego leveled up in “In Between.”

“Our roles now are very different,” Sue said. “We both became matured in our roles. I know Diego better now. He’s now a dad, so I see his maturity. He loves taking care of his daughter, Hailey. He loves talking about her. Sobrang girl-dad ni Diego. He loves being a girl-dad.”

Aside from “ASAP Chill Out,” Sue and Diego did a number of teleseryes through the years.

“We were younger then,” said Diego. “We were always the love triangle of Liz-Quen or Kath-Niel. We’ve been working together a lot. I feel really comfortable working with her. I’m really looking forward to work with Sue.

“We don’t talk often, but when we see each other, we’re still the best of friends. When I see Sue now, she’s in a real happy place in her life. When she saw me now, iba rin ang disposition ko in life now.”

Diego hopes there will be a next project for him and Sue.

“I hope there will a next one, even with direk Gino,” he said. “The characters are definitely older and this is more about love. ‘Mr. Heartless’ was more family-oriented. This (‘In Between’) is more appropriate with our ages and our lives.”

The story of “In Between” deals with alcohol that’s why there was a need for Sue and Diego to go around bars with direk Gino and they immersed in the roles.

Even direk Gino admitted he also matured as a director in working in “In Between.”

“The topics here, mas malalalim ang mga hugot ng tao dito,” direk Gino said. “This is more emotional than sexual.”

Direk Gino is thankful that his stars were collaborative throughout filming. “They have constant inputs as actors,” he said. “You will see different characters. I’m very excited for the people to see it.”

Not surprisingly, it was easy to break the ice for direk Gino with his co-stars. “For Diego, we were already texting even before we started filming because of Coleen (Garcia),” shared direk Gino.

“Our first interaction in the office, with Sue around, ang bilis. When they were reading the script, I didn’t even have to let them read more. Alam ko na, from the first page, they already knew their characters.

“We went out to bars to check out their alcohol, talked about their roles, life. Ang dami pa nilang nabigay na trivia, banters that you’ll see more in the film, as well. It was really nice. I guess that was my way to break the ice with them.”

Sue plays Gaila in her late twenties who knows how to keep herself busy. Carefree and adventurous, she’s a freelance musician, make-up artist and graphic artist. Her one vice, however, is drinking beer. She is cynical when it comes to love.

Diego is Shane, in his early 30’s and works in his family’s real estate business until he transitions to bartending. He’s got his heart broken, but still hopes to find the ideal girl. He has this habit of comparing women to different kinds of alcohol.

Transitioning to more intimate scenes proved to be a bit tougher for Sue and Diego. “That was the really different scene that we did from the past (film),” Sue said. “But we worked with an intimacy coordinator, so we know we’re safe in our scenes together.

Sue is thankful that Viva Films, producer of “In Between,” really took care of them while filming. “We didn’t have a hard time working on this one.

“It helped that we’re both actors. Our friendship is open to the industry. It wasn’t a big problem. I’m more comfortable that Diego id my friend. He is someone I can trust and I feel safe and comfortable around him.”

Diego assures everyone he is not doing any sexy scene for “In Between.”

“There are intimate scenes, but Sue and I were both comfortable with each other,” he said. “Our characters are very modern. We’re in a situation-ship, that’s what’s normal now among Gen-Zs and millennials.

“It’s the reality that we’re into now. It’ hard to commit. In the long run, you’re rea;ly looking for love or it’s just in-betweens.”

“In Between” starts its regular theater run on May 7 under Viva Films.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Leah C. Salterio