Vivian and Oscar’s story began long before either of them realized it. In their sophomore year of high school, they unknowingly crossed paths for the first time in history class. One afternoon, Vivian walked to the back of the room to put her books away when Oscar accidentally bumped into her, sending everything tumbling. She smiled, insisting she could pick them up herself, while he stood there thinking, “I need to ask that girl for her number — she’s cute.” He followed her out of class, ready to shoot his shot, but when he saw her walking with another guy (a completely platonic friend), he backed off and told himself, “If God wants it to be, it’ll happen.” And as fate would have it, it did. Vivian would later joke during cheerleading that number 36 on the football team looked especially cute in his uniform — long before she knew that number 36 was Oscar. Their real story began the summer before senior year, when mutual friends connected them and they started talking over Snapchat. After weeks of chatting, they decided to meet in person. Oscar came over for a bonfire, where both of them were adorably shy. Oscar could barely look Vivian in the eye, and she had to be the one to put her hand out first to hold his. It was awkward, sweet, and unforgettable. Not long after, they spent an evening at Cascade Lake — a moment that became one of their earliest and most cherished memories. They watched the sunset and talked about life, dreams, and everything in between. It was during that conversation that they both realized how much they liked each other. When Oscar brought Vivian home afterward, he walked her to the door, ready to give her what would have been her first kiss. But when he spotted her dad watching from the window, he panicked and went in for a hug instead. Vivian walked inside and immediately told her dad, “Jeez dad, you ruined what should’ve been my first kiss.” Their first official date came shortly after. They wandered around downtown Rochester and eventually sat on a bench by the library, where Oscar finally gave Vivian her first kiss. At the end of the night, they tried to share a goodnight kiss, but with his dad and her sister waiting to pick them up, neither knew how to make the moment happen. They were young, embarrassed, and completely smitten. On July 27, 2020, Oscar asked Vivian to be his girlfriend on a park bench at Quarry Hill — a simple, heartfelt moment that marked the beginning of their love story. Since then, they’ve grown from high school sweethearts into lifelong partners. Over six years together, they’ve built a life filled with laughter, adventure, and comfort. They love taking walks with their dog Lilo, exploring new corners of Minnesota, discovering new restaurants, and enjoying cozy nights in as the homebodies they proudly are. Now, they’re excited to begin the next chapter — building a home, a family, and a future rooted in the love that started with a shy smile, a dropped stack of books, and a summer sunset at Cascade Lake.