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

Chapter 6: The Initial Connection

I took a slow breath, my pulse racing with the weight of everything that had unfolded between us that night.

His gaze held me captive, and for a second, the world outside seemed to blur away, just the two of us in this quiet, unspoken understanding.

The connection that had sparked earlier wasn't just a fleeting moment anymore; it was real, and it felt like it was already beginning to grow.

His lips quirked into that familiar, soft smile that made my heart run a marathon.

I could see the warmth in his eyes, the way he looked at me as if he was already thinking about the next time he'd see me.

The world felt still in that moment, suspended in time.

"Take care of yourself, alright?" Yoongi added, his voice low, but filled with an undeniable tenderness.

I nodded, a little breathless, as if the simple gesture was enough to make the whole night feel like a dream.

"I will, Yoongi. I promise."

He didn't step back just yet.

Instead, his hand reached out as if to brush the hair from my face, but he hesitated, letting the gesture linger, the touch light and careful.

His fingertips grazed my cheek, sending a gentle spark of warmth, tender, through my skin. It wasn't the kind of touch that demanded anything, just a soft, unspoken reassurance.

I felt his presence more than I ever had before, and it was grounding, like he was already a part of me.

I met his eyes again, my voice barely above a whisper,

"I'm glad I met you."

Yoongi's eyes softened, and for a moment, he just stood there, taking me in as if he didn't want to forget the look on my face.

Then, with a quiet breath, he took a small step back, his gaze still holding me like he didn't want to let go of the moment either.

"Me too," he said, his voice rough with sincerity.

He was so effortlessly handsome in that moment-his dark hair slightly tousled from the night, his jacket framing his broad shoulders just right, his eyes dark with something unspoken but real.

I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks, but I didn't look away.

I didn't want to.

"Goodnight, Y/N," he said, finally turning toward the car. His words were gentle, but there was a heaviness to them, like he meant it more than just a casual goodbye.

"Goodnight, Yoongi." I watched as he stepped back into the car, my heart still racing, feeling the pull between us stronger than ever.

Before he closed the door, he flashed me one last smile-that gummy smile that could make any girl swoon and curse with envy.

I caught my breath and left me with an unmistakable feeling that something had changed between us tonight.

Something deep.

Something real.

The car pulled away, and I stood there for a long moment, still in the warmth of his gaze, the echo of his touch on my skin, knowing that whatever was unfolding between us was only just beginning.

The door clicked shut behind me, and as I stepped inside, I was lulled by the familiar warmth of my apartment.

There, curled up on the couch, was Wacha. She looked up at me with sleepy eyes, her tail flicking in a lazy acknowledgment of my return.

I crouched down, reaching out to scratch behind her ears, and for a moment, the weight of everything, Yoongi, the app, the strange encounter with the man, seemed to fall away.

Wacha let out a contented purr, and I smiled, the simple comfort of her presence grounding me.

I sank down beside her, letting the soft warmth of her fur soothe the nervous energy buzzing in my chest.

Still, my thoughts kept drifting back to that fleeting moment at the café.

I couldn't quite explain the connection I felt with the stranger, but it was there, undeniable and unsettling.

It reminded me of the stories I had heard growing up-of people finding their soulmates in the strangest of circumstances.

The app had already connected me to Yoongi, but was this other guy a part of this strange journey too?

And what about the other soulmates waiting to be discovered?

The soft glow of the lamp flickered in the corner of my apartment, and my gaze drifted to the coffee table. That's when I saw it.

The umbrella.

The one Yoongi had lent me months ago, during a particularly rainy evening when we'd barely known each other. It had been a small gesture, but something about it had stuck with me.

He'd given it to me without a second thought. And now, here it was, resting innocently on the table as if it had always belonged there.

I slowly stood up and walked over to it, the cool surface of the umbrella almost feeling like a piece of fate in my hands.

The memory of that night washed over me-the rain, the uncertainty, the feeling that this connection between us was already forming in ways neither of us had fully understood.

I couldn't help but smile softly to myself.

It was like the universe had already started pushing us together, even before we realized it.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything happening in my life right now.

I didn't feel quite so anxious about the future.

Whatever came next, whether it was Yoongi, the other soulmates, or the unexpected twists that life always seemed to throw my way, I was ready.

I wasn't alone in this anymore.

I ran my fingers along the handle of the umbrella, the sense of destiny almost too palpable to ignore.

Maybe, just maybe, it wasn't coincidence at all.

Maybe it was fate, guiding us all toward something bigger than we could imagine.