MANILA – Netizens gushed over a simple conversation between Zanjoe Marudo and Bela Padilla on social media.

The exchange began after Marudo shared shirtless photos of him on Instagram, which prompted Padilla to leave a comment. “Baka kabagin ka!” Padilla wrote.

A post shared by zanjoe marudo (@onlyzanjoemarudo) on Nov 2, 2017 at 6:58pm PDT

Replying to his “My Dear Heart” leading lady, Marudo said: “Kailangan ko pa maghubad para mag comment ka.”

What sent their fans further abuzz was Padilla’s next comment, which many netizens found sweet.

“Last hubad photo mo na yan,” she told Marudo, while using the angry emoticon.

But before anyone gives any color to their exchange, Marudo clarified in an interview with ABS-CBN News on Saturday that he and Padilla are just friends.

“OK naman [kami], we are good friends naman. Ang hirap minsan na kahit simple lang or normal lang naman iyong conversation, nagkakaroon ng [meaning]. OK naman iyon para sa akin, kung natutuwa sila or kinikilig sila,” he said.

“Ayaw ko naman pigilan iyong sarili ko sa mga kilos or galaw ko dahil lang baka ma-tsismis ako or baka mag-isip ng iba iyong tao. Mabuting tao siya, may pinagsamahan kami. Gusto ko makagalaw ng normal,” he added.

Marudo said he currently has his hands full and he is not yet ready for a new relationship.

“Single ako ngayon, focused ako sa work. Hindi pa ako ready magdagdag pa ng mga ibang commitments sa buhay ko dahil marami pa akong iniintindi,” he said.

Marudo’s last public relationship was with Bea Alonzo. Padilla, on the other hand, was previously with Neil Arce.