Former child star Louise Abuel adds another memorable portrayal to his portfolio as Kai, one of the patients in OK Hospital who's being treated for alcohol use disorder in "It's Okay To Not Be Okay," where he stars alongside Joshua Garcia, Anne Curtis, and Carlo Aquino.
Just the sight or smell of alcohol is enough to trigger Kai, which is why he’s confined. But beyond that, Kai is also someone who forms genuine connections, especially with Bella (Bianca De Vera), a fellow patient diagnosed with depression and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), who becomes part of his journey to healing as much as he is to hers.
When asked what he loves and hates about his character, Louise shared that the parts he admires about Kai are also the same things that annoy him, “Love ko sa kanya 'yung pagiging makulit niya, at the same time ‘yun na rin ‘yung hate ko sa kanya kasi minsan sumosobra na ’yung character ko dito."
He also pointed out Kai’s tendency to be "too in love," which can go both ways. “Minsan kasi masama rin ’yung masyadong bigay na bigay ka sa relasyon,” he reflected. But he appreciates his warm personality, saying one of the best things about him is how he can get along with anyone, “Kahit sino kaya niyang kausapin.”
When asked what he’d tell his on-screen self, Louise advised, "Kapit, Kai." He reminded him to take his journey to healing one step at a time, “Huwag mong masyadong isipin kung anong nangyari dati at kung anong mangyayari sa future. Kung ano lang ’yung nasa harap mo, just take that step.”
Catch Louise as Kai in “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,”airing weeknights at 8:45 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, and TV5. Watch it in advance on Netflix and iWant.