MANILA -- One of the main reasons fans loved the pairing of Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia was because of their undeniable onscreen chemistry, which made even more sense when it was discovered that they were actually dating in real life.

But as many know, their off-screen romance ultimately came to end last year just as they were working on their fifth movie together, the highly ambitious zombie project "Block Z."

With only a few weeks away from release, many are wondering if there's any lingering awkwardness between the pair from their breakup as they embark on the film's promo tour.

Speaking to reporters during the official media launch of the movie this Saturday, Garcia said they are "okay."

He went on repeat that a few more times before admitting: "Noong nakita ko siya, parang na-miss ko din siya. Kasi siyempre ang tagal namin hindi nagkasama -- na-busy siya, na-busy ako."

'Na-miss ko rin siya': Joshua, Julia, who broke up last year, talk about reuniting to do promos for 'Block Z' #BlockZRunTogetherWithMedia pic.twitter.com/FMZvG2QNib

— Vincent Garcia (@vincepgarcia) January 11, 2020

For her part, Barretto added: "That's one of the things that I'm super grateful for, is that we were able to protect and make sure that the friendship will stay and remain."

The two had said in the past that they chose to return to being "best friends" following their split, although it was difficult to deny how the breakup affected their relationship, given how rarely they were seen in public together after that.

"Tama siya," Barretto continued, pointing to Garcia. "When I first saw him, it felt familiar. ...It's a familiar place, a comfortable place, a safe place."

The two play college students in "Block Z," and Barretto said that she and Garcia had to figure out how to tackle the "different" kind of love their two characters have for one another.

Julia Barretto briefly talks about how she approached the 'love angle' in the film with Joshua Garcia #BlockZRunTogetherWithMedia pic.twitter.com/LGjk9aZHMN

— Vincent Garcia (@vincepgarcia) January 11, 2020

"Block Z" is slated for release this January 29. It tells the stories of students trapped inside a school infested with zombies and their struggle to escape alive.

It also stars Mccoy de Leon, Ina Raymundo, Ian Veneracion, Maris Racal, and Dimples Romana, and is directed by Mikhail Red ("Eerie," "Birdshot").

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