Zeinab And Ray Parks Jr. Are Each Other's Endgame—And They're Showing Us How It's Done

Ray and Zeinab met during a night out. Zeinab tells Cosmo she didn't really want to go. She wasn't really keen on looking for new love after her past relationship didn't pan out like how everyone expected. She was content and happy giving her full time and attention to her kids, Lucas and Bia.

But Zeinab's friends and sister Rana Harake wanted more for her. "One year and a half na akong single at the time. Gusto nila [friends] makipag-date na ako," she explained. But she was clear there was more behind her choice to stay single. "Ako naman kasi may trust issues ako, and may inaalagan akong baby girl. So, 'yung mga gagawin ko, magre-reflect din sa future ng anak ko, so maingat din ako," she said.

So, wearing her signature up-do and a simple dress, she gave in to their asks and there she met Ray—and, well, like she said, she had her reservations. "Hindi ko binigay sa kanya 'yung name ko talaga. Kasi ayoko nung mga guy na parang madadala dahil sa Instagram ko," she recalled, even revealing that she gave Ray a dump account, LOL.

It was a completely different case for Ray, though. Admittedly, it was love at first sight for the basketball star. "Hindi ko siya kilala. But when I first saw her, I was like, she's beautiful and she stood out to me," Ray told Cosmo. "It was a night out with friends. Ako, with family, birthday ng mom ko rin noon."

As cliché as it may seem, Ray said, "I knew that she was the person I wanted to be with," right off the bat.

"Actually, binudol kami. Ang sinabi sakin, gusto raw akong makilala ng friend 'nung brother-in-law niya. Tapos, ang sabi naman sa kanya, 'gusto kang ma-meet ng friend ko.' Talagang pinag-meet," Zeinab added before bursting into giggles. She shares how their tables were literally across each other at the night they first met.

That moment was their tip-off—the very start of the game, just like in basketball. When the referee tosses the ball high at center court, two players leap to tap it in the direction they want the play to go. In that instant, Ray grabbed his chance, setting the pace for everything that followed.

That's amid him running on a tight schedule at the time. He was set to come back to Japan for the start of the season, but all he could think about was getting to know Zeinab a little bit better.

"I was only there [Philippines] for a week, tapos babalik na ako sa Japan noon for FIBA. I tried to spend more time with her before I left," Ray said, affirming how sure he was of pursuing Zeinab just a week after meeting her. "I was three years single kasi. So, I was just waiting for the right time. God spoke to me in a way—which is weird, it's the weirdest place, the weirdest time, but we just clicked."

Zeinab didn't say yes right away when Ray began pursuing her. She needed time, and Ray waited patiently—slowly breaking down her walls, one day at a time. "She wasn't ready for a relationship, and she made that clear from the start," Ray shared, revealing how he was the one who stayed focused, never losing sight of Zeinab.

"Siyempre meron akong standards. Ayoko nang mapunta sa taong hindi ako ang priority. So 'nung bumigay na rin ako sa kanya, talagang gentleman siya, pinu-pursue niya ako, and kahit anong ipakita ko sa kanyang pangit—nandyan siya to accept all of me," Zeinab said on how she opened her heart to Ray.

Zeinab often wrestled with her own worries. There was a time when she felt completely shut off from the world, battling the harshest doubts about herself. "Tinataboy ko siya. Lagi niyang sinasabi, it's just a phase," Zeinab told Cosmo. 

When asked for the ultimate reason why he stayed despite Zeinab pushing him away, he said, "Because of the way she loves the people around her. It's a wall that I had to climb. So, it's either you tear down the wall with love, or you just accept defeat. And for me naman, it's hard to let somebody like her go." Ray declared, "I was really committed from the beginning."

Our conversation flowed effortlessly, with Zeinab laughing out of pure kilig now and then, while Ray openly gushed about the deep love he feels for her. Their relationship hasn't been perfect, but it hasn't been weighed down by major challenges either. What did take an unexpected turn, though, was that Zeinab once didn't believe in marriage at all.

"Hindi ako naniniwala sa marriage [noon]," Zeinab confirmed, explaining that it stemmed from the environment she grew up in. Most of her friends had been single for a long time and were perfectly fine without getting married. Because of that, she believed marriage wasn't necessary—even after her father nearly arranged a marriage for her in the past.

Ray admitted he had long understood Zeinab's initial reservations about their relationship, but when it came to her views on marriage, he found himself asking, "So, kung ayaw mo ng kasal, saan tayo papunta?" at one pivotal moment.

There was no definite answer from Zeinab. But it made her think as hard as she could. "Wala akong makitang mali sa kanya. [...] So, nag-isip ako, kailangan ko talagang pag-isipang mabuti kasi baka mamaya napapaasa ko pala siya tapos hindi ko pala kayang mag-commit. Ang ginawa ko, nag-matiyag ako kung paano siya sa amin ng mga bata," she disclosed.

When she felt everything falling into place, she said, "From there, nakita ko na, I think hindi na namin kayang mawala pa si Ray sa amin." In that moment, the thought of a lifetime with Ray felt right. 

Before the marriage talks, Zeinab actually had this one rule where she didn't want to get her kids, Lucas and Bia, to be involved in any way with her partner. "Lagi kong sinasabi, hindi pwedeng involved yung mga kids ko, para kung masaktan man ako, ako lang—hindi sila damay. Ayokong ma-attach sila, kasi iniingatan ko sila eh," she shared with Cosmo.

But the kids had their eyes set on him as well—to be their father, specifically. "Actually, hindi ko pinakilala si Ray. Yung panganay ko, si Lucas, naririnig niya na may nakakausap ako. Tapos lagi siyang sisilip, 'Daddy? daddy?' ganon siya, nang-aasar siya," Zeinab said. "So, feeling ko, naging supportive si Lucas, kasi nakita niya yung pain ko [noon] eh, kasi 10 months lang si Bia naging single mom na ako, tapos si Lucas turning 5, so nakakaisip na siya."

When it was finally time for the kids to meet Ray in person, there was no in-between—what Zeinab expected would be a casual "Tito Ray" quickly became something much more meaningful. He was simply—and now forever—their Daddy. "Sila 'yung tumawag ng Daddy Ray," she said.

It was like the game-winning shot for Ray, not only because he gained the favor of the two most important people in his girlfriend's life, but also because he became blessed with two wonderful kids in his life. "[I was] fulfilled and grateful. It's better than what I could've imagined. Being able to see the kids grow, and you know to yourself na, regardless of any basketball game, what you do in this world, they look at you as a superhero, and you come to a household that loves you for who you are."

By then, Ray and Zeinab had the almost-perfect relationship. They were both thriving in their careers, happy together with their two kids, and united in their pursuit of marriage. The only remaining challenge? Navigating the ups and downs of a long-distance relationship.

It's no secret that Ray and Zeinab often find themselves miles apart—Zeinab is based in Manila, and Ray is in Japan for his basketball career. And for many, the idea of a long-distance relationship can be daunting. But for Zeinab, it became one of the very reasons she knew Ray was the one.

It was, without a doubt, their winning moment—a culmination of patience and their steadfast adoration for each other. And now, they’re not just enjoying the moment—they’re planning ahead, building a future as a team.

This commitment goes not just for both of them, but for their two kids. Zeinab, who was once a single mom, has found the best partner and the best father for her children. "Hindi lang siya best partner pagdating sa'kin, pati din sa mga bata, best daddy din siya," she affirmed.

One of their golden rules as parents is to never argue in front of the kids. It's always about finalizing a decision first before facing the young ones. It's a way of living with respect and harmony, the couple said. 

As always, they try to be united and in sync, like the dream team that they are. And yes, it also applies to their finances, especially now that they're married.

They didn’t sign a prenup or draft any agreement to divide their assets. With full confidence, Zeinab and Ray told Cosmo that they've combined their finances completely for the sake of their family.

"Hindi ko in-expect—nagulat ako na he can provide [as an athlete]. Wala talaga akong idea. So, na-surprise ako sa mga properties niya, sa mga businesses niya. Sabi ko, 'Ay si Kuya, mabubuhay!' Kaya akong sabayan, kasi provider na ako eh. So, ang galing na ngayon may katuwang na ako," Zeinab said in a jest while looking back on how she discovered Ray's financial capabilities early on their relationship.