“How much longer do we have to keep up this charade?" Felix sighed, his hand intertwined with yours as you sat together in a local coffee shop. The idea had been forced upon you by your managers, who believed it would reignite interest in your careers, as the buzz around your band had dwindled.

Being in a band was already challenging, but being in a band with your ex added an extra layer of difficulty. The fact that you now had to pretend to be in a relationship for the sake of publicity was becoming increasingly unbearable for him. He despised every moment of this facade.

"Have they taken enough photos yet?" he whispered, scanning the shop to observe the numerous onlookers and the constant flashes of cameras directed at the two of you. "We have practice to focus on. We can't continue wasting our time on these manufactured scandals just because our managers insist on it."

The frustration in his voice was palpable, as he yearned to redirect his energy and attention back to the music that truly mattered to him. The artificiality of the situation was taking its toll, and he longed for the freedom to pursue his passion without the burden of fabricated publicity.