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

Chapter 40: Holding It Together ⚠️

⚠️ Content Warning: This chapter explores themes of violence and emotional distress which may be triggering for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

"I SWEAR TO GOD, IF SHE SMILES AT ME LIKE SHE'S HELPING ONE MORE TIME, I'M GOING TO LOSE IT."

Yoongi snorts. "Baby, breathe."

"I am breathing!" I throw my hands up, pacing around the kitchen. "I'm breathing while watching my entire workflow go up in flames because Miss Dara Lee thinks she's a genius!"

Yoongi chuckles under his breath as he flips the fish in the pan.

Wacha is at Yoongi's feet, tail wagging, following him each time he moves from the stove to the counter and back again.

"She is a genius," he points out.

I whirl around, glaring. "Do not defend her right now, Min Yoongi."

He raises his hands in surrender, amused. "I'm just saying-some of her ideas are good."

I groan, rubbing my temples. "I know they're good, okay?! That's the worst part! I hate how good they are!"

He hums, unfazed. "So the problem is...?"

I throw myself onto one of the barstools, exasperated. "The problem is that she's changing everything. She comes in with her perfect blazer and her perfect confidence and her perfectly valid ideas-and suddenly our entire process is shifting. New strategies, new documentation, new presentations-do you know how much work that is?! And she just smiles at me like she's giving me a gift while I drown in deadlines!"

Yoongi plates the food, setting it on the counter before turning to me with a smirk. "You sound personally attacked."

"I am!"

He lets out a soft laugh, setting chopsticks beside my plate. "Eat."

"I'm too mad to eat."

Yoongi tugs gently on my wrist, guiding me closer. "You love food more than you hate Dara Lee. Eat."

I scowl, but I pick up the chopsticks anyway, shoving a piece of fish into my mouth.

Wacha perks up, staring at me with wide, hopeful eyes.

I sigh, breaking off a tiny piece and handing it to him. "You're lucky you're cute."

Yoongi watches me, amused. "So you admit, Dara's suggestions are brilliant?"

I point my chopsticks at him. "Don't push it."

He smirks but lets it go, pouring us each a glass of water before settling in beside me.

And for a moment, everything feels normal.

Just us.

Just home.

Just the sound of clinking plates and Wacha's tail thumping against the floor.

But then-

The silence settles.

And my chest tightens.

Because nothing is normal anymore.

Because Taehyung is still gone.

Because it's been 35 days and we haven't heard his voice, haven't seen his face, haven't felt him-

And suddenly, the frustration about work morphs into something bigger.

Something heavier.

I set my chopsticks down with a shaky breath.

Yoongi notices immediately. "Baby?"