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

Chapter 79: Interrupted Kisses & Unfinished Business

He exhaled, slow and steady, before wrapping his arms around me.

The library had emptied out, the usual quiet now almost absolute, save for the occasional rustle of pages and the distant hum of the central heating.

Namjoon and I had long abandoned any pretense of reading, our hands loosely intertwined on the table between us.

His thumb traced slow, absentminded circles over my skin-a quiet, grounding motion that made my heart ache with something deep and unshakable.

He glanced at me, his voice gentle. "Noona"

I looked up. "Hm?"

He hesitated, like he was searching for the right words. "You know... I didn't think I'd find this."

I tilted my head, curious. "Find what?"

He smiled, almost to himself. "People who feel like home. Who make the world make sense in ways it didn't before."

His fingers traced the edges of my hand "It's not about waiting, really. More like... realizing something was missing only after you find it."

Something about the way he said it made my heart ache in the best way.

I studied him, the way the warm lighting softened the sharp angles of his face, the quiet sincerity in his eyes.

"I know what you mean," I murmured. "It's strange, right? How we all just... fit."

Joon nodded, his gaze locking onto mine. "Like we were always meant to."

My chest tightened. It wasn't dramatic or overwhelming-it was quiet, certain, like something settling into place.

I reached for his hand and he met me halfway, our fingers tangling together like they'd done this a thousand times before.

Maybe they had. Maybe, in every lifetime, we found each other like this-through conversations in quiet corners, through shared laughter and unspoken understanding.

Namjoon's thumb brushed over my knuckles, slow and deliberate. "Merry almost-Christmas, Noona."

I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest. "Merry almost-Christmas, Joonie."

The library door creaked open, and a rush of cool air swept in as Taehyung returned, grinning like he had just uncovered some grand secret.

"Alright, lovebirds," he announced, flopping down dramatically onto the armrest of my chair, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"I found the photography books, but more importantly, I found something even better."

I raised an eyebrow. "Better than books?"

"Way better," he confirmed, eyes twinkling mischievously.

"The ski lodge has its own winter apparel shop. It's insane-like, everything you could ever need to become a winter fashion icon."

Namjoon hummed, closing the book he had been flipping through. "Yeah, I figured you'd find that."

Taehyung tilted his head. "Oh? And why do you sound so unimpressed?"

Joon smirked. "Because, Tae, you do realize we can take whatever we want, right?"

Taehyung blinked. "Huh?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

Namjoon leaned back against the table, looking at us like we were slow.

"You know how Jin hyung owns everything here, right? That means it's Including that shop. You really think he's going to charge us?"

Taehyung's mouth parted slightly in realization before he let out a low, impressed whistle.