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

Chapter 3: Cracks in the Armor

I've spent the past few days trying to keep myself busy, working long hours to avoid thinking too much about the app, the soulmates, and everything else that had come with it.

But no matter how many reports I read or process I fine tune, my mind always seemed to drift back to that strange, undeniable connection.

Every time I walked past him in the hallway, I feel it again, the pull.

But I didn't know how to close the distance without making things more awkward.

It was like there was this invisible thread between us ever since we met, and it has even more amplified now that the reality of being soulmates had been slapped to my face.

It's like a constant reminder that we were connected, mocked by the universe for even trying to dismiss it, but even so, we're still completely lost in what to do about it.

Work became my escape, but nothing seem to distract me more than him, not even the constant office gossip Jae was providing.

My coworkers, though, had started to notice.

They were keen, sharper than I thought, and it wasn't long before I realized that they were all too aware of the fact that I was acting... off.

_________________

It was a Thursday morning when I got caught in the office kitchen, trying to pour myself some hot chocolate without making a complete disaster of the process.

"Y/N, you look like you've been run over by a bus," Yeona said as she breezed into the office kitchen, a cup of tea in hand.

She didn't even look up from her phone as she spoke, but I could hear the teasing tone in her voice.

I groaned and pressed my palms into my face. "It's nothing. Just... work stuff."

Yeona, however, wasn't the type to let things go. Not when it came to me.

"You've been staring at that cup of hot cocoa for the last ten minutes. So, either you're deeply contemplating the meaning of life, or you're avoiding something. Spill."

I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of the now almost lukewarm cocoa like it was going to magically solve all my problems. "It's... the usual. Just a lot of pressure. You know how it is."

She tilted her head, giving me that look. The one that said she could see right through me. "Y/N, I've known you since we were 6 when you stayed in Korea with your parents for the summer holidays. You think I don't know when something's bothering you? Especially when it's about a certain someone?"

I froze mid-sip, nearly choking on the coffee. "What are you talking about?" I sputtered, setting the mug down quickly.

Yeona gave me an exaggerated, dramatic eye-roll, her lips curling into a mischievous grin.