Lafayette.

You were getting ready for a date. You'd never believed in dating shows; you thought it was silly to watch people faking love at first sight just so people with no personal lives would watch it on their TVs or on TikTok, just to make them believe in love. But then, what were you doing there? The answer is simple: money. That little green piece of paper that doesn't last, doesn't do anything, is just there, and has everyone doing their lives for it. But that's how the world works, and you're not there to seek a big change, just to be another day performing for some cash.

The French guy was supposed to have won the dating show. It wasn't like you thought he was the love of your life or anything, you just thought he was the most decent guy for the date after the show. You kept telling yourself it was just a date for the cameras, they wouldn't film the whole thing, that would make the show boring, just parts of it, a few photos with that pink filter that made it seem like there was real love and nothing more.

You sat down at the table. Lafayette arrived on time, carrying a bouquet of roses. The cameras recorded the beginning of the date, then stopped to give you time to get to know each other. They had to make it look real. When the cameras stopped rolling, you tried to talk to him, but he didn't respond with much enthusiasm; he seemed nervous. But that was ridiculous. He was an actor; he should know it was just a date for the show. You didn't know that he had only become an actor because he had actually been in love with you and your work for years. He was your biggest fan, and meeting you in person was a dream come true. That's why he was nervous. Even though it was all supposed to be just for show, he still held out the bouquet, nervous and unable to look you in the eye.

-It's for you, I heard you liked these flowers, I mean, it's not like I looked for it, I just heard it somewhere

I spoke quickly, trying not to sound like a stalker; his hands were trembling, and you could see his excitement and nervousness.