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

Chapter 90: A Lantern in the Dark

Wacha trotted towards him, curling on his legs, then letting out a tiny meow that sounded almost like, "Where the hell have you been?"

Yeontan jumped down from his arms and padded straight toward Y/N noona, nudging her leg gently.

She didn't move at first. Then, slowly, she reached down and scooped him up, holding him like a piece of home.

Taehyung dropped to one knee and ran his fingers through her fur, whispering,

"Missed you too, Wacha." His voice cracked.

Then he stood again, taking slow steps into the space we'd all shared so many times-laughing, cooking, falling asleep watching movies, arguing over board games, comforting each other through heartbreaks and nightmares.

Only now, the air felt different.

Fragile.

Like one wrong word could shatter it all.

"I'm sorry," Tae started, not meeting anyone's eyes. Voice cracking.

"I... I need to say this before I lose my nerve."

No one interrupted him.

"I fucked up," he began.

"I was cruel. I said things I didn't mean. I weaponized my pain instead of processing it. I blamed you all because I didn't want to sit alone with how broken I felt."

he paused to catch a sob and then continues.

"I let the pain turn me into someone I don't want to be. I was angry. So fucking angry. Not just at Jungkook for leaving. But at the world. At fate. At myself. And instead of processing it... I made you all my targets."

He looked at Yoongi.

"Hyung... you've always been the quiet strength behind all of us. You carry so much, and I never even asked how you were. You were there-always there-and I turned around and accused you of not caring... Even when you were barely holding it together yourself. You wrapped your arms around the rest of us when you needed someone to hold you. And I accused you of being heartless. I'm so, so sorry."

Yoongi hyung's throat bobbed, his hands curled into fists at his sides. His mouth opened like he might speak, but nothing came out.

Tae turned to Y/N noona next, and Wacha padded close to her again, watching Tae with gentle, expectant eyes.

"Noona," he said, voice trembling now.

"God, Noona, you've been nothing but kind to me. Supportive. You're grieving someone you never got to hold. And I twisted that grief into something shameful. I made it sound like your sadness wasn't real. Like it made your pain less valid. That was cruel. You didn't deserve that."

Noona's lips quivered, but she held Yeontan close to her chest, like she needed him to keep from falling apart again.

"I saw you cry," Tae whispered, eyes brimming again.

"And it broke me. Because I did that. I hurt you, and I don't think I can ever forgive myself for it. But I'm still going to try. Every day."

Then he looked to Jin hyung and me.

"Hyungs...You've been trying to keep the rest of us afloat, even when I know you've been drowning too. I didn't even think about how tired you must be. How heavy this has been for all of you. I know you've both been trying to stay strong for all of us. I made it worse. I made you feel like your strength wasn't enough. Like your pain didn't matter. But I see you. I see the cracks behind your smiles. And for that... I'm so sorry."