Ermilo and Madalyn first met in middle school at an event called Rockin Bowl. Naturally, they did what any middle schoolers do—had a super serious “relationship” for about five minutes. After realizing that holding hands was awkward and texting was even worse, they decided to call it quits and stay friends. Smart move, right? So, they spent the rest of middle school and the first year of high school just navigating the minefield of puberty as friends.

Then, sophomore year rolled around, and Ermilo had a brilliant idea. He thought, “Hey, why not ask Madalyn out again, but this time with tacos?” Genius, right? So, he invited her to a taco dinner (because tacos are the true way to a person’s heart). Madalyn, who clearly recognized the value of a good taco, agreed. On December 4, 2016, they officially became a couple—probably because the tacos were so good. Love at first bite.

Fast forward to 2021: they finally made the leap to adulthood and moved into their own home. Now, instead of just surviving middle school, they were surviving the chaos of three dogs, one cat, and one constant question: “Who ate my snacks?” But they were in it together—tackling life’s messes, from pet hair everywhere to the endless dishes.

Then came the epic moment in 2024. On a trip to Punta Cana, Ermilo decided to pop the question. He got the ring, took a deep breath, and asked Madalyn to marry him. But instead of a classic “yes,” Madalyn stared at him, said, “Really?” (because, who wouldn’t question this amazing decision?), and then grabbed the ring and slapped it on her finger. So romantic, right? Nothing says true love like surprise and a bit of confusion.

After eight years of laughs, tacos, and figuring out how to keep their pets from staging rebellions, they’re gearing up for the next adventure: marriage. And probably more tacos