Linda and Marcos met in junior high in Los Banos, California. Linda was in seventh grade and Marcos was in eighth. They were, for all intents and purposes, a little bit like enemies, which in hindsight feels like a very on-brand way for their relationship to begin, and the start of what would eventually become their own enemies-to-lovers story.

After high school, they went their separate ways for college. In 2018, they reconnected and started spending time together again. This time, things felt different. What started as catching up quickly turned into something more.

Their relationship grew during years of long distance. Linda moved to San Diego for her master’s while Marcos was in Turlock. She later moved to Texas to begin her PhD. No matter the distance, they stayed committed and continued choosing each other.

About a year after Linda moved to Texas, Marcos joined her. Since 2022, they have been building a life together in the same place. In December 2025, they welcomed their golden retriever, Penny, who quickly became the center of their world.

During a cabin getaway in Oklahoma, Marcos asked Linda to marry him. It was a quiet and meaningful moment, and an easy yes after everything they had built together. What started as something like an enemies story turned into something lasting. After 18 years of knowing each other, Linda and Marcos have come full circle and are excited for everything ahead.