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

Chapter 37: Caught in 4K

But today, when I pass by Jinho-one of our junior engineers-and he clumsily drops his files, instead of stepping over them like usual, I actually stop and help pick them up.

Jinho blinks at me, stunned.

"Uh... thanks, sunbae?"

I nod, standing up. "No problem."

And then-I smile.

Big mistake.

Jinho pales.

"Oh my god," he breathes, gripping the files like they're a lifeline. "Something's wrong."
"What?" I frown.

He shakes his head. "Are you okay? Are we okay? Is the company going under? Is there a cyber attack happening right now?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"
He looks around as if someone else can confirm his fear. "You just helped me. And-you smiled. You never smile."

I roll my eyes. "I do smile."

"No, you smirk. Or you laugh when someone makes a dumb mistake. This?" He gestures at my face. "This is new. This is weird."

I scoff, walking past him toward my desk. "Dramatic."

Jinho stares after me, still looking deeply unsettled.

I think nothing of it-until I reach my office.

Soojin, our info security specialist, walks in cautiously. "Uh... good morning?"

"Morning." I set my bag down, cracking my knuckles.

Her eyes narrow. "You're in a good mood."

I arch a brow. "Yeah?"

"No, like. A good good mood." She leans in, whispering. "Are you... high?"

I almost choke on my own spit. "What? No."
She nods slowly, unconvinced.

Then, as if the universe itself wants to drag me, my phone buzzes on my desk.

I glance at it-just a simple notification from her

Y/N (Private to Yoongi)
TAE IS EMBARRASSING ME. I'M GOING TO THROW MYSELF OUT A WINDOW. 😭

I snort. I already saw Taehyung's chaos this morning in the group chat, but apparently, he has not let up.

Soojin eyes me suspiciously. "Did you just giggle?"

"No."

"You did."

"I didn't."

Jinho suddenly appears at my door, still clutching his files. "He smiled at me too."

Soojin gasps dramatically. "Oh my god. The world is ending."

"Guys-"

"This is like a rom-com horror movie,"

Jinho continues, voice hushed. "You know, where the grumpy hacker guy suddenly turns nice, and then boom-alien invasion?"

"Or maybe," Soojin whispers, eyes wide,

"he's in love."

I freeze.

There's silence.

And then-

Soojin and Jinho gasp at the same time.

"Oh my god." Jinho points at me. "It is love, isn't it?"