MANILA – For the first time, James Reid has spoken up about Nadine Lustre more than two weeks since they confirmed their separation through a joint statement.

In an interview with fashion magazine Mega Man for its February 2020 issue, Reid was quoted to have said he is not sure “who I am without Nadine yet.”

“We’ve been in a love team for so long. And that’s been my whole life. I can’t even begin to think of who I am or what I’m supposed to be outside of that love team, which is scary. And that’s why I said I got a lot of figuring out to do,” he said.

But as far as aspirations go, Reid said he would like to get to know himself better and become more independent.

“People might say I’m a bit heartless. I don’t want it to seem like me wanting to know who I am without Nadine is the only reason. There are too many to point out, but that’s all I’m able to share without going into depth,” he explained.

“I still love her. It’s just my perspective on love has broadened,” Reid added.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview also with Mega magazine, Lustre said she considers Reid her “security blanket.”

“He’s the first person to come and rescue… I’ve learned so much from him. I’m always going to be thankful that that guy came into my life, no matter what happens,” she said.

Reid and Lustre had their showbiz breakthrough in 2014 via the big-screen romcom “Diary ng Panget,” launching one of the biggest love teams among their contemporaries.

Both Viva artists at the time, they successfully transitioned to television as contract stars of ABS-CBN, where they starred in back-to-back drama series, “On the Wings of Love” in 2015 and “Till I Met You” in 2016.

When they started filming the latter, their onscreen romance had already bled into real life. That romantic milestone unfolded in February 2016, when Reid declared his love for Lustre at the close of their joint concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

While they are no longer together, Lustre previously told ABS-CBN News that she and Reid continue to have a good relationship despite their breakup.

“We are good. That’s all everyone needs to know. I think the social media kasi just blew it out of proportion. Talagang medyo naging OA lang, but we are super good,” she said.

She even expressed willingness to work with his ex-boyfriend in the future.

“Of course. Maybe in the future. But right now kasi, the goal talaga is to work on other stuff separately. We’ll see. Baka naman in the future, mangyari ulit iyan. But yeah, I am super open. It’s going to be a reunion teleserye for the both of us,” she said.

Reid and Lustre would have marked their fourth year as a couple this month.