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

Chapter 103: Where Gravity Turns to Poetry

We eat together, bodies tangled around the breakfast bar, chairs stolen, laps offered, arms wrapped around waists or shoulders or legs.

Yeontan curls at Tae's feet. Wacha perches on top of the fridge like a very judgy gargoyle.

Hobi's leaning into Joon, half-dozing.

Jungkook's feeding oppa strawberries and giggling every time Jin oppa dramatically pretends to choke.

Yoongi's got his chin on my shoulder, and his hand playing with my fingers under the table.

It's domestic. It's soft. It's everything.
And then the doorbell rings.

Tae bolts upright like someone lit a fire under his butt.

"THAT'S HIM. Or... the manager. Whatever. IT'S TIME."

"BREATHE, CUB," Jin oppa calls after him.

We all scramble, coffee cups hitting counters, chairs screeching.

Yoongi tries to corral Wacha back into the living room as she starts to hiss at the door like she's guarding the Holy Grail.

Jungkook clutches Hobi's hand dramatically.

Tae answers the door with a calm smile and perfect posture.

Behind it stands a sharply dressed man in a neutral-toned blazer, hair slicked back, tablet in hand. Lee Hyun.

Park Jimin's manager.

He greets Tae politely, eyes flicking around at all of us peeking from various corners like nosy but stunningly good-looking raccoons.

"Thank you for having me," Hyun says.

"Jimin unfortunately couldn't make it today-he had a prior commitment he couldn't shift. He sends his apologies."

The air dips for a moment.
A flicker of disappointment.

"It's okay," Tae say softly. "Come in please, my office is upstairs, let me lead the way."

The manager smiles at us politely as he and Tae head upstairs to the home office.

For the next hour, we all try to pretend we're not anxiously waiting.

Jin oppa bakes cookies he doesn't let us eat.

Jungkook does squats to "calm the energy."

Yoongi just lies on the couch, arms crossed, eyes on the ceiling like he's projecting affirmations.

Hobi playing with yeontan to distract himself and Joon trying and failing to read.

A few minutes pass.
We hear footsteps on the stairs.

Tae reappears with Hyun, both smiling.

"Thank you for welcoming me in your beautiful home," Hyun says, bowing slightly to us before taking his leave.

"We are both looking forward to working with you Taehyung." he shakes Tae's hand as he steps out and then he's gone.

Tae turns to us, bouncing on his heels like he's about to burst.

"We finalized the collab. I'm designing a VR art performance, and Jimin's team is creating the choreo to match. We'll launch the project in phases-one on my platform, one on theirs. We're meeting next week for the content brief."

"Wait-you're meeting him?" Hobi gasps.

Tae nods. "In a week."

Yoongi grins. "And you'll survive that long?"