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

Chapter 39: Drowning in Absence ⚠️

I swallow. "Then we remind him that he can ask."

Yoongi turns to me. His eyes are dark, guarded. "What if he won't?"

I hesitate.

Because I don't know.

Taehyung has always been the type to carry things alone, to pretend he's fine even when he isn't. But this-this feels different.

I reach for Yoongi's hand, squeezing gently. "Then we don't stop trying."

He stares at our intertwined fingers for a long moment before nodding, just once.

And even though the silence doesn't disappear, it feels a little lighter.

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Day 11

I find him by the window again.

The rain has slowed, but the clouds are still thick, casting everything in a dull, gray haze.

Yoongi is sitting on the floor, his side leaning against the couch, one knee bent, fingers loosely curled around his phone.

He's scrolling, but I can tell he's not really seeing anything.

Neither of us have heard from Taehyung today.

Not in the group chat. Not in private messages.

Not even a single emoji.

The silence is unbearable.

I walk up behind him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders from behind. He leans into my touch immediately, exhaling slowly.

"You're gonna drive yourself crazy," I whisper against his temple.

"I'm already there."

I press a kiss to the side of his head. "Come back to me, then."

His fingers ghost over my forearm. "I'm worried about him"

His voice cracks.

And my heart shatters.

I tighten my hold on him. "Me too."

He lets out a shaky breath. "I keep thinking... what if he's somewhere alone? What if something happened and he's just-"

"Yoongs." I step around to kneel in front of him, cupping his face. His eyes are dark and tired, rimmed with something raw and unspoken.

"We're gonna find out what's wrong," I promise. "We're not giving up on him."

Yoongi's throat bobs as he swallows hard.

For a while, neither of us say anything.

Then, quietly-

"I miss him so much."

It's not broken. It's not desperate.

But it is raw.

Honest.

I lean my head against his shoulder. "Me too."

His fingers twitch, and I watch as he hesitates before he locks his phone and sets it aside, turning fully toward me.

And when his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me against him, I don't hesitate to hold him just as tightly.

Because I know this isn't just about Taehyung.

It's about us.

Holding each other steady.

For as long as it takes.