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

Chapter 38: Lies We Can See Through

Yoongi (Group Chat):
And don't say you're fine if you're not. You don't have to pretend with us.

Tae's response takes a little longer this time.

Taehyung (Group Chat):
Aww, you guys are so sweet 🥺 but I promise, it's really just work!! I'll be back before you know it, and then you two are gonna get so sick of me.

Yoongi exhales sharply. "He's still pretending."

"Yeah." I bite my lip. "But at least now he knows. That we're here. That we see him."

Yoongi nods, reaching for his own phone. "Then let's make sure he doesn't forget."

I watch as he types out a new message-not in the group chat, but directly to Tae.

Yoongi (Private to Taehyung):
I'm gonna message you every day. You don't have to say anything. Just don't ignore me.

My chest tightens.

I follow suit.

Y/N (Private to Taehyung):
Me too. I don't care how busy you are, I'll be here. So don't think you have to handle everything alone, okay?

A moment passes before Tae finally replies in the Group Chat

Taehyung (Group Chat):
You guys are too much 🥹💜

It's lighthearted. But it doesn't reassure me.

Because something tells me that whatever this is, it's not as simple as work.

And even if Tae isn't ready to tell us yet...

We won't stop reminding him that we're here.

No matter what.

______________________

The weight of Taehyung's absence doesn't fade.

If anything, it lingers-sinking into the quiet moments of the day, pressing into the space he used to fill so effortlessly.

Yoongi and I move through our routines as usual-waking up tangled in each other's arms, sharing sleepy kisses before work, falling into bed at night in a mess of limbs and whispered confessions-but no matter how much warmth we wrap ourselves in, there's an emptiness neither of us can ignore.

Because Taehyung isn't here. And we don't know why.

We try to act normal.

We text him every day.

Sometimes he answers, sometimes he doesn't. But even when he does, something always feels... off.

And it's starting to drive Yoongi crazy.

___________

Day 3

I settle into my chair at work, opening my laptop as my phone buzzes beside me.

Yoongi (Private to Y/N):
Still nothing from him.

I sigh, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Y/N (Private to Yoongi):
He'll reply soon. Maybe he's just really busy?

A minute later-

Yoongi (Private to Y/N):
That's what he wants us to think.

I bite my lip. I hate that I agree.

Taehyung's replies, when they do come, are too polished, too carefully worded.

He never says where he is, what he's doing, or even what kind of "work" pulled him away so suddenly.