It was August 2011, Rodrigo was just a middle schooler joking around in class with his friends. That day, his actions earned him a seat on the other side of the classroom. As he sat down, Rodrigo glanced over to see who he’d been placed near by. He saw a quiet girl, her long bangs almost completely covering her face. He found himself thinking “How can she even see?” They didn’t exchange words, but something about her stuck with him. A week later, she moved away. He never imagined he’d cross paths with her again. In January 2012, Rodrigo's grades were slipping & his mother decided it was time for a change. She enrolled him & his twin brother in a new school. On the morning of his first day, Rodrigo felt a mix of nervousness & anticipation. Meanwhile, Danielle was running late to school. By the time she arrived, classes had started, and she soon noticed the buzz about new, twin transfer students. “They’re so cute!” her friends whispered excitedly. Curious, Danielle eventually caught a glimpse of them later on in the hallway but wasn’t particularly impressed. To her, they were just new faces in the crowd. Rodrigo, on the other hand, recognized Danielle when he saw her. She looked different—her face wasn’t hidden behind her bangs anymore & she carried herself with more confidence. Seeing her again felt surreal. He couldn’t believe the coincidence of being at the same school & it made him even more curious about her. Though they didn’t interact right away, he found himself drawn to her & realized he had a crush. Over the next few weeks, Rodrigo kept noticing Danielle—in the hallways, at lunch & during their shared gym class. He wanted to talk to her but struggled to find the courage. Meanwhile, Danielle remained unaware of Rodrigo’s feelings, seeing him only as one of the new twins that everyone else had a crush on. One day, a mutual friend let it slip to Danielle that Rodrigo liked her. She was taken aback. Plenty of girls at school had a crush on the twins, but she never expected Rodrigo to have feelings for her. That revelation shifted her perspective & soon, she started to notice him in a way she hadn’t before. Over time, her feelings began to shift, quietly growing into a crush of her own. The turning point came in their shared gym class. Danielle decided to approach Rodrigo. Both shy & nervous, they had their first real conversation. They confessed their mutual feelings for each other & from that day, they were inseparable. They began talking every day, exchanging long love notes, staying up late on the phone & surprising each other with small gifts & candy—whatever they could scrounge up as middle schoolers with no money. By the time they reached high school, their relationship had matured. They started spending time together outside of school, visiting each other’s houses & going on real dates. With the money they earned from their part-time jobs, they were able to buy each other actual gifts & pay for dates. Once they got their licenses, they were able drive to and from school and around town together, sharing moments that felt more grown-up. Along the way, they created countless memories together at school, including homecoming dances, soccer games, pep rallies, and prom. Together, they navigated the highs & lows of growing up—exploring new phases, style changes & interests. They celebrated milestones like graduation & birthdays, supporting each other through challenges & built an unwavering bond as life continued to evolve around them. After high school, they briefly parted ways, taking a 1 month break to figure out their next steps. But during that short time apart, both of them came to the same conclusion: they were meant to be. Now, more than a decade later, they’re ready to begin their next chapter as husband & wife.