'Big Brother 26's Tucker Des Lauriers and Rubina Bernabe Say Their Relationship is 'Better Than Ever'

When a Big Brother season ends, it's almost become tradition that fans follow to see what happens next with the "showmances." Spending upwards of three months inside a house with the same people, it's only natural that feelings develop. The CBS reality series often likes to tout that they've produced more marriages than The Bachelor. Though for every success story, there are those that fail to materialize one the houseguests step foot into the real world.

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That is not the case for Big Brother 26 standouts Tucker Des Lauriers and Rubina Bernabe. Last time we had seen the two, they had spent months separated, with Tucker evicted just before jury, while Rubina making it all the way to fourth place. The pair reunited during the two-hour finale in October, where they said on the live show they had every intention to make their relationship work. And indeed, speaking with Us Weekly on the red carpet of the at the 11th Annual Reality TV Awards on Nov. 18, those efforts have proven successful.

"It’s official," Rubina told the outlet. "We’re better than ever."

“It’s alive and real, baby!" added Tucker.

Speaking with Parade hours after winning the fan-favorite "America's Favorite Houseguest" prize–making history as the first prejuror to get the award–Tucker revealed that he would be staying out in Los Angeles in the days following the finale. "I'm staying out here for my birthday," he said. "She asked me on stage. I was like, 'Yeah, I was watching everything. I'm definitely staying out. I heard you say it. I'm here. I got it.' And she says she want sto celebrate the holidays with me, maybe she'll come back to New York for Halloween. Who knows? But just beyond excited for every day."

Related: Everything to Know About Big Brother 26

That enthusiasm has still carried through a month and a half after reuniting, and has even become more emboldened. The couple is still navigating geographic difficulties, with him being based on the East Coast in New York City at the moment. But both affirm to Us that they actually like each other more now than in the house, getting to meet their respective families and get to know them more as people than players.

Amongst the familiarly cold set of Big Brother, the couple known as "Tubina" kindled a flirtatious flame almost immediately. Rubina was nearly evicted a month in, but was spared when Tucker became the part of what would be many house flips in what some call one of the most entertaining seasons of the veteran reality series. Being granted a stay of eviction, the two kicked up their relationship, getting more intimate and exclusive.

One notable part of their journey came when Tucker was given the power of the "AI Instigator," allowing him to anonymously spread information through the house using AI avatars of the other houseguests. He used his newfound authority to actually publicize his romance with Rubina, hoping to alleviate the pressure to keep it secret. Unfortunately, it had several unintended effects. Rubina was devastated in the moment, feeling her private feelings were now on display for everyone to see. On top of that, a confirmed "showmance" put an even bigger target on Tucker's back, so much so that he was evicted mere days later as part of yet another house flip.

Related: Big Brother 26 Winner Chelsie Baham Says She Was 'Shocked' By Her Unanimous Victory

"Us being outward and finally explicit about our relationship was not a surprise to the other players," Rubina told Parade in her own post-eviction interview. "I think they felt honestly relieved that we finally were out about it, because we tried really hard not to make it a thing. though everyone was fully aware, I am pretty sure. So it was, I think, as much as the relief to them as it was for us to finally share it."

When given the opportunity, Tucker did apologize to Rubina on stage for his anonymous antics. He then made it clear his feelings for her superseded the game. And, according to what he told Us, they even began before entering the house.

"I knew it when we were sitting on the stage before we even went in the house," he said. "I was being told to be quiet, and I couldn’t stay quiet. But she started laughing and just being cute. You were sitting in front of me and you were giggling when I was being annoying. And I was like, 'Yeah, she’s gonna be really fun. I’ll probably be best friends with her.'"

It's unknown what will come next for "Tubina," or whether one party will make a permanent relocation to the other coast to begin the next stage of their relationship. But once thing is clear: "Tubina" has officially upgraded from "showmance" to "romance."

Related: 'Deal or No Deal Island' Is Back for Season 2–With 'Survivor' and 'Big Brother' Winners!