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

Chapter 88: The Comeback Kid ⚠️

Taehyung's POV

"Stop screen-peeking, Jungkookie! That's cheating!"

"I don't need to screen-peek to destroy you, hyung."

His voice was smug-no, obnoxiously smug-as he leaned back against the velvet green couch, controller still in hand, like he hadn't just banana-peeled me off Rainbow Road for the third time in a row.

I let out a long, dramatic groan and flopped sideways, throwing an arm over my eyes like a wounded soldier.

"There's no joy left in this world. Only blue shells and betrayal."

Jungkook laughed, the sound bright and uninhibited. "You're so dramatic."

"And you're so insufferable."

He just grinned wider, eyes shining with victory.

That little smirk had been glued to his face since he walked into my apartment thirty minutes ago, holding two bags of snacks and all the energy of someone very ready to crush me in Mario Kart.

And crush me he had.

We'd been hanging out like this almost every day since our first meeting in the greenhouse a week ago.

Quiet cafés. Late-night phone calls.
Online rounds of Valorant and League when we couldn't meet in person.

Jungkook always carried me, of course.

Always rolled his eyes when I accidentally died in a 1v5 or tried to "heal with bullets," as he so lovingly put it.

"You know," he said now, wiping a bit of popcorn dust on his sweatpants,

"you're even worse at Mario Kart than you are at Valorant."

"I'm not worse, I'm just distracted!"

"Oh yeah?" He leaned in, teasing.

"By what? The road?"

"No," I said with a narrowed look.

"By the sheer arrogance sitting two feet to my left."

He beamed like I'd handed him a trophy.

"You love it."

"I tolerate it."

Yeontan barked once from where he'd curled up near Jungkook's leg, his tiny head tilting like he was offended on behalf of his new favorite person.

Jungkook looked down and reached to scratch him behind the ears, voice softening immediately.

"You are so cute, Yeontan-ah," he cooed, letting the pup lick his fingers.

"Look at this face. He's like a little prince."

"Right?" I grinned, heart full as I watched the two of them.

"Total diva. I think he knows it, too."