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

Chapter 88: The Comeback Kid ⚠️

The whole apartment glowed with laughter and trash talk and something warmer still.

Jungkook won again, of course. And I groaned, flopping back for the second time that night.

But I was smiling.

Because he was here.

Because he felt safe enough to be smug and silly.

Because even in this weird in-between space-before decisions, before futures-we had this.

And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

_________________________

"You cheated!"

Jungkook's voice cracked through the living room, somewhere between a whine and a bark of outrage.

I doubled over laughing, my controller nearly slipping from my hands.

"I did not cheat!"

"You totally cheated, hyung. You pushed me!"

"I nudged you."

"Nudged me off the track."

"Semantics."

Jungkook turned to me with the expression of a wronged nobleman, dramatic and wide-eyed, one hand gesturing in disbelief.

"You just robbed a multi-title eSports champion, professional gamer, global icon-"

"-a sore loser,"

I cut in, grinning like a menace that I am.

He gasped. "You-!"

"I think I deserve a crown,"

I said, standing up on the couch like a triumphant gladiator, controller raised in victory.

"All hail me, Mario Kart King of the Living Room!"

Yeontan, sensing the chaos, barked in agreement-or protest, hard to say-and tried to climb into Jungkook's lap, pawing at him like he was also demanding justice.

"Oh, not you too, Tan-ah,"

Jungkook groaned, letting the dog crawl into his space.

He scratched behind Yeontan's ears with practiced fondness, his smile betraying the fact that he wasn't mad at all.

We'd been playing for two hours now-long past any reasonable sense of competition.

The controllers were warm in our hands, half the chips were gone, the soda bottles had lost their fizz.

Every round brought more teasing.

More moments where our shoulders brushed.

More of Jungkook's soft, delighted laughter echoing off the walls.

I'd almost forgotten about time.

Except-every time we paused for a breather, I'd glance at my phone. And reply.

Jin hyung had sent a meme about lawyers and soup.

Joon hyung had updated me about tomorrow's pre-trial rehearsal schedule.

Y/N noona had sent a string of sleepy selfies, each worse than the last.

Yoongi hyung just sent "eat something."

All four of them, in their own quiet ways, checking in on me.

I replied between matches.

Short updates.
Little hearts.