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

Chapter 38: Lies We Can See Through

Every attempt to ask is met with vague responses or playful deflection.

And the worst part? That's not like him.

I switch to our group chat, scrolling through our latest conversation.

Y/N (Group Chat):
Miss you, Tae! How's everything going? ❤️

Yoongi (Group Chat):
Where exactly are you?

Almost an hour later-

Taehyung (Group Chat):
Miss you too, Noona! Things are good, just super swamped. Can't wait to see you guys again though!

Yoongi's response was immediate.

Yoongi (Group Chat):
That didn't answer my question.

But Tae never replied.

___________

Day 5

Yoongi is frustrated.

I can feel it in the way he grips his phone a little too tightly when we check for messages.

In the way his jaw tenses every time we go to bed without a reply.

In the way his fingers dig into my hips with just a little more urgency when he pulls me into his lap on the couch, pressing heated kisses against my throat-like if he holds me close enough, maybe the worry won't consume him.

"Baby," I murmur, threading my fingers through his hair as he buries his face against my collarbone.

He exhales sharply. "He's ignoring us."

I swallow, tightening my arms around him. "He's answering sometimes."

"Not enough." His voice is gruff, frustration bleeding into every word. "He's hiding something, and I can't do anything about it."

I press a kiss to his temple. "I know."

His arms tighten around my waist. "I hate this."

Me too.

_________________

Day 7

It's late. We're curled up in bed, Yoongi's hand tracing lazy circles against my hip.

I sigh, shifting closer, resting my head against his chest. "You okay?"

He doesn't answer right away.

Then-

"No."

I tilt my head up to look at him.

His brows are furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line.

"It's been a week," he mutters. "A week of him dancing around our questions, dodging the subject, pretending everything's fine. But it's not. And he won't let us in."

I reach up, cupping his jaw. "We'll see him soon."

"That's not soon enough." His voice is low, pained. "What if he needs us now?"

My chest aches.

I know how much Yoongi loves Taehyung.

How deeply he cares-even if he doesn't always know how to show it.

I kiss him softly. "We'll keep trying."

He exhales against my lips, nodding.

And even though worry still lingers between us, he pulls me closer-his fingers tracing down my spine, his lips finding mine again in a slow, desperate kiss.

And just for tonight, we let ourselves forget.

_________________

Day 8

Yoongi's the first to wake up.

I'm still half-asleep when I feel him shift beside me, reaching for his phone.

I hear the soft buzz of a notification.

Then-
"Are you fucking kidding me?"

I blink awake. "What?"

He turns the screen toward me, scowling.
It's a message from Tae.

Taehyung (Group Chat):
Morning!!! Hope you guys are doing well!! Just wanted to remind you that I love you both so much!!! 🥰💜💜

It looks sweet. Innocent.

Exactly the kind of message Tae always sends.

But I know what Yoongi sees.

I see it too.
It's too easy.

Too perfectly timed-like he's overcompensating.

Like he's trying to make us believe he's fine so we'll stop worrying.

Yoongi lets out a sharp breath. "I'm done playing this game."

Before I can stop him, he starts typing.

Yoongi (Private to Taehyung):
Stop lying.

A minute passes.

Then-

Taehyung (Private to Yoongi):
Hyung 🥺 I'm really okay, pls believe me.

Yoongi's grip tightens on his phone.

Yoongi (Private to Taehyung):
You're not okay. I know you. I feel it. So stop acting like everything's fine.

I place a hand on his wrist gently. "Yoongs..."

His eyes meet mine, frustration, pain and worry flickering behind them. "He's making me worry about him."

I nod, lacing my fingers through his. "I know."

His phone buzzes again.

Taehyung (Private to Yoongi):
I promise, hyung. It's just work. You don't have to worry so much 🥰

Yoongi scoffs. "He's deflecting again."

I exhale, pressing my forehead against his shoulder. "What do we do?"

Yoongi doesn't answer right away.

Then, voice quiet but firm-
"We keep messaging him. Every day. Even if he doesn't reply."

I nod. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."

Yoongi looks at his screen one more time before typing a final message.

Yoongi (Private to Taehyung):
You're still ours, Tae. No matter what.

He hits send, then tosses his phone onto the nightstand.

I reach for him, pulling him into my arms. He melts against me, burying his face in my neck.

I hold him tight, pressing a kiss to his hair. "He'll come back to us."

Yoongi swallows, his voice tired, breathless
"I know."

But neither of us go back to sleep.