It’s the last measure of the piece. The orchestra plays in perfect sync with their eyes on the conductor. Suddenly, the last note is played and the whole group uses vibrato with their left hand on the fingerboard of the wooden instruments. The whole group falls silent and puts their instruments down to indicate the end of the piece.

The class period is over and everyone begins to pack up their instruments. In the violin section, there’s two students who put their violins down, but pick their bows up. They make eye contact and playfully use their bows like swords, laughing with each other. The pair then finds a seat and hold each other tightly.

It’s ‘UIL’ season for the varsity group. As the annual competition draws nearer, there’s anxiety in the air. But for juniors Mitchell Rodriguez and Penelope Valtierra, there’s love in the atmosphere.

The pair started dating after meeting each other in orchestra. Unexpectedly, what started out as dislike for each other soon turned into a friendship, then a relationship.

“We hated each other until junior year and then I got to know him,” Valtierra said. “It just happened naturally. I like how smart he is and how genuine he can be.”

For Rodriguez, one of the things he admires most about Valtierra is her laugh and her personality.

“One of the first things that attracted me to [Valtierra] was her laugh,” Rodriguez said. “It’s so contagious and really funny, as well as how caring and thoughtful she can be at times.”

As soon as Valtierra and Rodriguez made their relationship official, there was celebration amongst their peers.

“I could tell Mitchell was crushing on her,” senior Nhi Tran said. “I knew they were dancing around each other for a while, so when they finally announced it, [I] was [excited].”

The two have been dating over a month and they share many similarities. One of them being how they’re able to communicate respectively.

“Our ideas bounce off each other really easily,” Rodriguez said. “We’re just able to talk and be mature about things. [As well as] share our ideas.”

The couple shared many experiences together and each one of them is memorable. But to Valtierra, only one memory sticks out to her.

“We were at my grandma’s house and Mitchell started playing piano,” Valtierra said. “I recorded him and [the idea] of how smart he is, how he’s such a great musician, and seeing his passion for music made me realize my passion for him.”