Marlin and Natida lived on opposite sides of the country. Marlin lives in Connecticut, while Natida resides in Oregon. Our fortunes collided on this special day when Marlin was going through his Instagram and came across a post about the show "Your Lie in April." However, instead of hitting it off immediately, Natida spoiled the show's finale, leaving a foul taste in the fate counter.

Despite the fact that Natida spoiled the ending of the show they were both watching, they remained in contact. Natida noticed Marlin had Snapchat in his Instagram bio and decided to start communicating through it.

Natida and Marlin grew close through back-and-forth Snapchatting. They eventually begin texting and conversing on their phones.

After nearly two years apart, They were finally together in person. On this day, Natida took a leap of faith and traveled all the way to New Haven, Connecticut, to meet Marlin face-to-face. It feels like just yesterday. The very first thing they did was visit Frank Pepe’s Pizza—hands down the best pizza spot around. If you’re ever in town, you have to try a slice! During those two short weeks, Natida met Marlin’s family, discovered his favorite restaurants, watched a movie at his go-to theater, took a trip to New York City, and even saw Wicked on Broadway. It was an unforgettable visit filled with amazing memories.

After that, Marlin visited Natida in Portland, Oregon, and she later returned to spend time with his family in New Jersey, enjoying a memorable week on the boardwalk. It was during these visits that they realized they needed to be closer to each other. Then, something unexpected and wonderful happened—Marlin’s step-grandfather, Larry Kaine, and Betsy Love generously offered to welcome Natida into their home temporarily, giving us a chance to be closer to each other in order to find a place of our own. And just like that, our long-distance chapter came to an end.

They both worked hard to secure an apartment in Amherst, Massachusetts, so Marlin could complete his degree—and, for the first time, they could finally live together. In this photo, you can see Marlin’s stepmother, Joyce, who played a huge part in helping them find a place near UMass

Here, you can see Marlin and his father packing up all their belongings as Marlin and Natida are prepared to move in together for the first time.

After the loss of our beloved childhood pets, Kudu, Pudgie, Lady, and Pongo, they both felt the desire to welcome a new companion into their lives. Instead of getting a dog right away, they decided to bring two guinea pigs, Piglet and Pingu into our lives. They brought us so much joy and lived vibrant, healthy lives. Piglet, the last of the pair, passed away on October 4, 2025

Over the years, both Marlin and Natida balanced work with Marlin’s ongoing education. During this time, Marlin found his stride in the retail industry, earning several promotions and eventually becoming a general manager and IT manager. Meanwhile, Natida pursued her passion for the beauty industry, obtaining her esthetician license and building a successful career in her field.

After many months caring for their guinea pigs, They realized we were ready to welcome a dog into our family. That was the moment Bowser entered their lives—our cherished boy and the latest addition to our family.

On this special day, Marlin graduated from UMass, and his family joined to celebrate the achievement. Here, you can see him with one of his little brother, Lucas, as they enjoy the moment together.

With both Natida and Marlin fully established in their careers, their son Bowser has grown up quite a bit. This photo captures one of the many hikes they enjoy together as a family.

Another fun moment with Ollie and Chichi

Just like that, after ten years together, Marlin finally proposed to Natida. They’ve stood by each other through every challenge and triumph, and while Marlin isn’t quite sure why it took him so long to propose, he knows they’re meant to be together forever.

Now that they’re engaged, Marlin and Natida look forward to growing both personally and professionally. Marlin hopes to advance his career in the banking industry, while Natida is dedicated to reaching new heights in the beauty field. Together, they dream of settling down, buying a home, building their investments, and growing their family. Could a baby be on the horizon? Only time will tell!