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

Chapter 38: Lies We Can See Through

Both of us freeze as my phone vibrates on the nightstand.

Yoongi groans, flopping onto his back. "If that's Tae again-"

"I swear, if he timed this again, I'm throwing my phone into the Han River," I mutter, grabbing the device.

But when I look at the screen, I pause.
It's the group chat.

And it's not teasing this time.

Taehyung (Group Chat):
Hey guys! So something came up with work, and I have to reschedule the weekend. Really sorry! 😞

Taehyung (Group Chat):
Gotta fly out for two weeks, so let's plan for the Saturday and Sunday after I'm back instead. Don't miss me too much!

A strange feeling creeps up my spine.

Yoongi shifts beside me, propping himself up on an elbow. "What is it?"

Wordlessly, I hand him my phone.

He skims the messages, and I watch as his brows furrow slightly. "...Work?"

"That's what he says."

Yoongi stares at the screen for a moment longer, then exhales. "That's... sudden."

"Right?" I chew my lip. "If it really was a work thing, wouldn't he have mentioned it earlier? We talk every day."

Yoongi nods slowly. "And he was teasing us last night. He didn't say a word about being busy."

I swallow. "It doesn't feel right."

Yoongi doesn't say anything, but I can tell he feels the same.

It's not just the abruptness.

It's the way he worded it.

Too casual.

Too smooth.

Tae is always animated in his texts, but there's something... calculated about this.

Like he was trying too hard to make it sound normal.

And the timing.

A whole two weeks? He didn't even hint at a trip before this.

I don't want to overthink it.

But I can't shake the feeling that something is off.

I type back.

Y/N (Group Chat):
You okay, Tae? This is so sudden. Do you need help with anything?

His reply is almost immediate.

Taehyung (Group Chat):
I'm all good, Noona! Just one of those last-minute work things, you know how it is. It's nothing serious! Just busy!

There it is again.

The way he's answering too quickly, too neatly.

Yoongi must notice it too because he sighs, tossing my phone onto the bed. "He's lying."

I frown. "I know."

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken worry settling between us.

"I don't want to push him," I say quietly. "He's an adult. If he doesn't want to talk about it, we should respect that."

Yoongi nods. "Yeah. But that doesn't mean we can't remind him that we're here."

I glance at him, heart aching at the tenderness in his voice. "Yeah. You're right."

I pick up my phone again, taking a deep breath before typing.

Y/N (Group Chat):
You know we're always here for you, right? If you need anything-literally anything-we're just a call away.