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

Chapter 91: The Weight of Fate

It was the silence that broke me.

Not the tension.
Not the fear.

Not even the truth I had just spilled like glass shattering between us.

It was the silence after.

The way he looked at me-stunned, hurting, too still.

Like if he moved, the world might collapse beneath us.

And maybe it already had.

I stepped back, breath catching in my throat, and something inside me-something buried so deep it had been cracking quietly-finally gave way.

"I'm sorry-"
My voice broke. Shattered.

I blinked fast but the tears were already falling.

"I didn't want this, Hyung. I didn't want any of this to happen like this."

He didn't say anything.
His hands were clenched by his sides, chest rising and falling too slowly.

I covered my face with both hands and slid down to the floor, my back against the kitchen island.

My knees pulled up.
My ribs felt too tight, like my lungs had forgotten how to breathe.

"I was so scared," I whispered.

"I've been scared for so long, Hyung."

I looked up through blurred eyes.

"I didn't activate my LoveMap profile for years. Everyone around us was doing it. Everyone was finding their matches, talking about fate and destiny and connections. But I didn't need to. I already had mine. I already had you."

My fingers dug into the sleeves of my sweatshirt, pulling the fabric tight.

"You've always been my home. Since we were kids. Since the day we met. I felt it then-I didn't have a word for it, I didn't know what it meant, but I felt it. And you did too, didn't you?"

He blinked. Slowly.

A slight nod.

"You were older, steadier. My safe place. I always looked at you and thought-this is what love feels like. Even before I had the courage to say the words. Even before I kissed you."

The memory came rushing back-our first kiss. Quiet. Breathless.

Behind a gaming studio we rented after hours for me to practice.

We were trembling, and we laughed in disbelief. It had taken years of stolen glances and endless near-confessions to get there.

But the moment our lips touched, everything stilled.
Everything made sense.

"I didn't activate the profile because I didn't want anything to question us,"

I continued, my voice trembling.

"What if it said you weren't one of mine? What if you were, but I wasn't one of yours? What if the app told us that the most beautiful thing I've ever had... wasn't real?"

I looked at him then, and my chest ached at what I saw. The tears building in his eyes.

The small, instinctive twitch of his hand toward mine. The way he wanted to comfort me-even now.

"You've always been real to me,"

I said, desperate, shaking.

"You were there for everything. Every fear. Every dream. Every version of me I was too ashamed to love-you loved them all."