Aww, Paulo Avelino Sent Kim Chiu V-Day Flowers—And She Says She Feels Protected With Him

Valentine's Day looked a little different this year for the KimPau duo Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino. While fans might have imagined a romantic date together, the two actually spent the day apart, keeping things low-key and focused on their own schedules.

At the grand media conference for the extended version of their hit series The Alibi, Kim shared that her February 14 was all about staying in. "I watched Netflix on Valentine's Day," she said. Paulo had a similarly simple celebration: "Bahay lang din. May meeting, and then may inaral ako para sa isang role."

But even without a date, the day still delivered a kilig moment that KimPau fans definitely did not miss.

Reporter MJ Felipe asked Kim straight-up who sent the bouquet she had shared on social media. The actress quickly revealed, "Siyempre, sa kanya." Paulo, right next to her, casually confirmed, "Sa akin." KimPau fans, are you still okay?

The gesture clearly meant a lot to Kim. After coming home from It's Showtime and seeing the flowers waiting for her, she recalled thinking, "Girl pala ako." She had noticed many women throughout the day carrying bouquets and joking to herself about their "long hair"—only to realize she had her own surprise waiting at home.

"Hindi naman yan kung gaano kalaki yung bulaklak or kung gaano kadami," Kim said. "It's the thought that counts—naaalala ka."

The bouquet reportedly included roses and peonies (her favorite), though Paulo later shared he simply asked the florist to prepare something in red and pink. For him, the important part was her reaction. "Masaya ako na masaya siya," he said.

And yes, she definitely was. Laughing, Kim added, "Happy din ako na napapa-happy niya ako."

Beyond the Valentine's sweetness, the moment also reflects the kind of partnership the two have built over time. Now on their fourth project together, Kim admitted that working with Paulo now comes with a sense of security. "Lahat naman ng taong nakakasalamuha ko ay may respeto sa akin so I feel protected," she said in an interview with Philstar.

She appreciates that their projects continue to challenge them with different kinds of roles, something she credits to the opportunities given to them as a tandem.

"I think there's a sense of growth in terms of the roles that we're doing," she shared. "And pag ka-eksena ko si Pau, I also feel like I'm growing as an actor."

For Paulo, he described his approach to working with Kim as looking out for each other in practical ways. He explained that apart from the physical aspects, protection also comes from sharing knowledge and helping one another navigate challenges, both on and off set.

As for their real-life status, the two continue to keep things light and intentionally vague. When the conversation turned to their "real score,"—a playful way of asking how official or serious their relationship really is—Paulo answered "100," later clarifying that he was simply giving a number and not confirming anything.

Kim, meanwhile, dodged the question with her signature humor: "Para saan ba ito? Ikabubuti ba yan ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas?"

Following the success of The Alibi, the pair is set to headline The Alibi: Ang Buong Katotohanan. This TV version will feature an alternate ending along with never-before-seen scenes from their mystery-romance story, and is scheduled to air on Primetime Bida this March.