Rosalinda  star Carla Abellana was quite surprised when photos of her and former flame PBA player JC Intal showing them being quite sweet on each other appeared in a tabloid's front page. Inside lay a bigger surprisemore pictures on Lolit Solis' column that made it appear that her breakup with JC was just a gimmick.

But Carla explained on Startalk yesterday, "Matagal na mga 'yan, e. Those pictures aren't recent pictures and they are from years back. Bago pa ako nag-enter ng showbiz, e kami papinatanggal ko na sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling iyon, e, but we're not together anymore and it's been a while."

Pinoy Parazzi's editor-in-chief Raimund C. Agapito revealed that the photos were found in the cager's Facebook account, where Carla allegedly posted them herself.

FRIENDLY GESTURES. For Carla, however, the shots showed nothing romantic between them, especially the holding-hands shots.

"Nagho-holding hands kami kasi lagi akong nadadapa o natatapilok," explained Carla. "Palagi niya akong gina-guide. Totoo 'yan, promise. Saka 'yan si JC sweet na tao. Holding hands does not necessarily mean you're together as boyfriend and girlfriend."

According to Carla, it's been two months since they broke up, when she chose her career over matters of the heart. It may not be known to many, but the breakup serves as her emotional push when doing her intensely dramatic scenes in Rosalinda .

"Five years hindi basta-basta maitapon yun, e," Carla said, "pero priority ko kasi ang trabaho. Yun ang naging decision ko na pasukin ang mundo ng showbiz, so knowing lang what I should prioritize at this point in my life, e kailangan ko i-sacrifice."

There was news that at the opening rites of the Philippine Basketball Association, the former couple snubbed each other. This was denied by Carla.

"Hindi ko siya nakita nun," she said. "Nakita ko lang yung teammate niya. Brief lang kasi ang opening, e, so kailangan naming mag-parade right away. Siyempre hinanap ko siya, di ba? Kasi hindi ko sure kung alam niya na mag-muse ako for another team. Alam niya naman."

Right now, it is only through text messaging that the former couple communicates, and only as friends, Carla stressed. Of course, friends can still become lovers and, is it to be expected that the two might fall in love again?

"Ayoko magsalita nang tapos," she said. "Anything is possible and I'm not closing my doors."