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

Chapter 30: Snap, Roar, Repeat

Yoongi's hand briefly shifts on the steering wheel, his fingers brushing against the leather, and I feel a quiet shift in the atmosphere.

It's like the moment itself becomes heavier, filled with unspoken things.

Then, almost as if realizing that he's been staring a little too long, Yoongi clears his throat and turns his focus back to the road. "Tae, you're being dramatic. It's just a lion."

Taehyung leans forward, his eyes wide. "I'm serious, hyung! It looked at me like I was its best friend."

I see Yoongi's lips twitch slightly, his usual stoic expression cracking for a moment as he lets out a small laugh. His eyes soften as he shakes his head.

"Yeah, right. If that lion is your friend, I'm a lion tamer."

Taehyung bursts out laughing. "Well, in that case, I expect a lot of free tickets to the zoo, hyung."

I look over at Yoongi, catching the way his smile lingers.

There's a warmth in the way he lets himself be drawn into Taehyung's joy, even if it's a little absurd.

As the car continues to roll through the safari, we spot tigers pacing along their enclosure, sleek and powerful.

Some leopards are climbing the trees, their spots blending into the shadows.

And the bears... they're huge, lumbering around with an almost comical grace.

Taehyung eagerly snaps photo after photo, excitedly showing me his best shots.

"Look at this one!" Taehyung says, holding up his camera to show me. "It's practically a National Geographic cover, right?"

I glance at the photo, shaking my head with a grin. "Nice try, Tae. But I think you're a little biased."

He beams, unfazed by my teasing. "Hey, it's my best shot! No denying it."

I pull my camera out, raising it to snap a few shots of my own. "I'm not losing this competition, Taehyung."

Taehyung leans forward in his seat, a smirk playing on his lips as he gets ready for the next shot. "Bring it on, noona."

Meanwhile, Yoongi remains mostly silent, focusing on the animals and the road, but I catch a few glances from him.

His eyes are soft, affectionate. The way he cares about me and Tae, even in these small moments, doesn't go unnoticed.

He reaches over and places a hand on my arm for a second, just a quick touch, but it means everything to me. "You doing okay?" he asks, his voice low and gentle.

I turn to look at him, offering a soft smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Just enjoying this. Thanks for driving us here."

Yoongi smiles back, a little more reserved than usual, but his eyes are warm. "Anything for you guys."