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

Chapter 7: The Tension In The Air

She had a certain kind of charm that couldn't be ignored, and I found myself wondering why I'd never paid attention to her before.

I was perfectly content with my quiet routine, with the spaces I had carved out for myself in the office, away from unnecessary drama and distractions.

But Y/N... she was different.

And the more I watched her, the more I couldn't help but wonder how much more there was to her than what I saw on the surface.

The more I observed, the more I realized something else.

She wasn't perfect, not in the way she tried to make herself seem.

There were moments, subtle but telling, where her mask cracked.

It could be the way she sighed after a long meeting, her shoulders slumping for just a second before she composed herself again.

Or how she would lose herself in thought when she thought no one was watching, her fingers absentmindedly running through her hair.

In those moments, I began to see her as more than just a colleague. I saw the person beneath the polished exterior-the one who was just as human as the rest of us.

And somehow, that made her more intriguing.

One day, as I passed by her desk, I overheard her on a call, her voice soft but firm.

I could tell she was dealing with some kind of issue-probably related to the LoveMap app, judging by the way she was speaking.

The conversation sounded stressful, and for a brief moment, I felt the urge to step in, to offer some kind of help.

But I didn't. I couldn't.

Instead, I kept walking, my heart inexplicably tight as I made my way to my office.

It had been a year since that last conversation, and our interactions had been limited to the occasional passing greeting.

Neither of us had spoken much since then, though I had noticed that she'd occasionally glance my way, just as I did with her.

It was a strange, unspoken connection we had-two people who didn't quite know what to make of each other, but couldn't seem to shake the curiosity.

I wasn't sure what I wanted from this, if anything at all. But every time I saw her, I found myself wondering if there was more beneath the surface.

And then there were the little things.

Things I never would have thought I'd care about.

A week ago, I had noticed that Y/N's laptop was acting up during a team meeting.

It was lagging, and she looked frustrated, trying to fix it while still keeping her composure.

It bothered me.

I hated seeing her struggle, even if it wasn't anything major.

So, I had taken it upon myself to subtly fix it. I didn't say anything.

I didn't even mention it to her.
I just took the laptop to the IT department and had them check it out.

The next day, I saw her fidgeting with her laptop again, and for some reason, I felt a twinge of annoyance.

I watched as she sighed and muttered to herself.

Without thinking, I requested a laptop replacement for her entire team, filing it as a malware issue and in a few days she was able to get a new laptop, along with the rest of her teammates.