Trevor and Marilyn first met in 7th grade in 2008, riding bus number 56 to Matson Middle School. Marilyn was loud, outgoing, and full of energy. Trevor was the quiet skater boy with that iconic swoopy Justin Bieber haircut — and he immediately caught her eye. Marilyn boldly asked a friend from Trevor’s neighborhood to tell him she thought he was cute. Though shy at first, Trevor agreed to meet her, and they quickly became inseparable on the bus. He even walked her home after school — far out of his way, but always worth it. It was sweet and simple. Though it only lasted a few middle school months, it already felt gentle and true. In 8th grade, they tried again, but Marilyn was in her rebellious phase, and the timing wasn’t right. They broke up but stayed friends. By high school, they reunited at Kentlake. Once again, they shared that long, winding 40-minute bus ride, talking the whole way. Marilyn didn’t have a cell phone, so Trevor would call her house just to hear her voice. They dated again — and drifted apart once more. Life was pulling them in different directions, but Trevor always saw the good in Marilyn. And she never forgot that. In 2011, Marilyn moved to the Philippines to refocus her life. Though they kept in touch from time to time, it wasn’t easy. Whenever she visited home, they tried to see each other, but strict parents and complicated circumstances made it hard. Years passed. Marilyn entered a toxic relationship that kept her away from home. In 2014, her father was injured, bringing her back to Washington — a homecoming that became the start of everything. She messaged Trevor soon after returning, but he had a girlfriend then and didn’t think it was right to meet. A few months later, he reached out. They sat in his car and talked for hours. Both had changed. Marilyn was quieter and softer; Trevor was more confident and sure of himself. The energy between them had shifted — still familiar, but grown. They began spending time together again. Marilyn grew close to Trevor’s brother and his friends. They laughed, lingered, and danced around the idea of “us.” The timing wasn’t always right — sometimes one was ready while the other wasn’t. That push and pull lasted for months. Then one summer night, Marilyn’s friend, April, visited from Spokane. With April’s tough love and encouragement, Marilyn finally found the courage to ask. Sitting on the playground at Horizon Elementary under a quiet summer sky, she turned to him and asked, “So… do we want to make this official?” Trevor said yes. That was July 26, 2015 — and this time, it stuck. At 19, their friendship turned into something deeper. Over the next decade, they grew up together. They healed, laughed, argued, forgave, and chose each other — again and again. Now, at 30/29, they’re finally getting married. They’ve built a cozy life together — full of laughter, late-night drives, three beloved cats, and a whole lot of Hello Kitty (which Trevor lovingly accepts because it makes Marilyn happy). And if you ask them, it’s all been worth the wait.