Stigma Love's Algorithm [ A BTS x Reader Poly ]

Chapter 1: Unseen Threads

Equal bonds, the app called them, but that's where it got complicated. No person was supposed to be more central than the others. No hierarchy.

But what if one person felt more attached to another? What if one connection felt more natural than the others?

I had no answers.

The notifications continued to flash on my screen, one after another.

Matches were being made. Soulmates were finding each other.

For some, the bonds would begin with the soft brush of a kiss, others would advance to physical intimacy, and for a rare few, they would reach the ultimate connection-a shared experience that solidified their relationship.

But how could I be sure those bonds were real? How could I be sure that what was happening was what they wanted?

There was no way to know. I was just the product manager. I helped optimize the system, lead the development team that fine-tunes the algorithms.

The app was doing what it was supposed to do playing, God, and the results were speaking for themselves: fewer divorces, lower rates of depression, and a society that felt more emotionally connected.

But at what cost?

"Y/N," a voice called from the doorway, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turned to see Jae, my colleague and one of my closest friends l, standing there with a cup of coffee in hand.

He grinned at me like he knew something I didn't.

"Staring at that screen again?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe. "You need a break."

I forced a smile, trying to hide the anxiety swirling in my chest. "I'm fine, just... thinking."

Jae raised an eyebrow. "Thinking about the app again?" He moved into the room and sat across from me, setting his coffee down on my desk.

I nodded slowly, not quite sure how to explain what had been bothering me.

Jae was one of the few people I trusted at EchoTech, aside from yeona my best friend who also works here, but he was also one of the biggest advocates for LoveMap.

He believed in it, wholeheartedly. He had no problem with the government's involvement or the app's endless capabilities.

"I just... don't know, Jae," I began, trying to find the words.

"I mean, sure, the app is supposed to bring people together, help confirm the existence of a soulmate connection. But now it's matching people with multiple soulmates. How is that even possible? Isn't that too much? I thought the point was finding one soulmate."

Jae shrugged nonchalantly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"The system works, Y/N. It's not about one soulmate anymore. It's about finding connections with multiple people who was destined for you. It's a new frontier, and it's working. People are happier than ever through it. LoveMap was created to help people. You know that."

I frowned, tapping my fingers nervously on the desk. "But how can anyone be happy with five soulmates? Or more? Doesn't that just complicate things?"

Jae leaned forward, setting his coffee cup down. "What's the problem with multiple soulmates? It's natural for some people to have more than one deep connection. Who's to say that's wrong?"

I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. "But who decides that's what people want? The app's just telling them who they're connected to. What if someone doesn't want multiple connections? What if they're overwhelmed? What if this system is making people feel like they have to accept it?"