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

Chapter 90: A Lantern in the Dark

"I was just... I was so angry. At everything. At myself. And I took it out on you. On Yoongi hyung. On Y/N noona. Even Jin-hyung."

He sniffled hard, dragging his sleeve across his face.

"Yoongi hyung yelled at me, Joon hyung. He never yells at me."

I nodded gently.

"I know. He didn't want to. He's just..."

"Hurting," Tae finished.

"Because I accused him of not caring. And I know he does. God, I know he does. You all do."

He looked down at Yeontan.
His voice dropped to a whisper, like confessing to the wind.

"I fucked up."

I finally reached out and put my hand on his back.

He flinched first, then leaned into it.

"Listen," I said quietly,

"you're not the only one who's broken right now. But you're also not the only one who made mistakes. We all did."

He turned to look at me, eyes wide and wet.

"I hurt her," he said.

"Y/N noona. She cried, Joon hyung. I saw her cry, and Yoongi hyung held her like... like she was made of glass. And I did that. I made her cry. The person who's always tried to understand me even when I didn't say a word."

I swallowed hard.
My chest ached just hearing him say it.

"She said it hurts in a confusing way," Tae went on.

"Because she's never even met Jungkook. And I threw that in her face like it meant she didn't matter. But she does. You all do."

There was a pause.

"I feel like I've burned the only home I had left."

I took a deep breath, steadying myself.

"No, Tae. You didn't burn it. You're standing in it. You just forgot the walls could carry you too."

He closed his eyes tightly, more tears falling.

"I hate this," he whispered.

"I hate that he's gone. I hate that we didn't even get the chance. And I hate that I made everything worse. I don't deserve you guys."

I grabbed both of his shoulders now and turned him to face me.

"You listen to me, Kim Taehyung. Grief is messy. It's ugly. It makes us say things we regret. You lashed out because your heart's been breaking for days and no one blamed you for falling apart. But you do deserve us."

He broke then. Really broke.
Fell into my arms like a house finally giving way after the storm.

I held him, strong and tight and unmovable.

The way I always did since we met, and he needed someone to be gravity when the world felt like space.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed again.

"I'll say it a thousand times. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't."

"Y/N noona-she looked so hurt-"

"She loves you. She's not going anywhere. But when we go home, you need to tell her that. You need to show her."

He nodded against my shoulder.

"Same with Yoongi-hyung. And Jin."

"I will."

We sat there for a while longer.