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

Chapter 103: Where Gravity Turns to Poetry

Even now, standing here in this glittering hotel ballroom, tuxedo jacket open, champagne glass half full, it hasn't left me.

Jia's masterpiece-L'Éveil.
It cracked me open like a glass shell.

I'd known. Of course I'd known.
She was telling our story-hers and mine.

The faceless expectations.
The rules.
The cold sculpting of image over self.

She told it all through music that bled and movements that ached.

And when the ballerina fell? When the piano screamed?

I felt myself in her silence.

I cried.
All of us did.

Joon had his hand wrapped tight around mine, his thumb stroking the back of my knuckles like a lifeline.

Y/N sobbed quietly beside us, her head on Tae's shoulder as he whimpers silently.

Jungkook-sweet, expressive Kookie-looked shattered in the best way.

Now I understand why Yoongi and Hobi haven't even stopped talking about it.

Jia had given us a mirror.
A confession. A liberation.
And she did it in front of the world.

I'm so fucking proud of her.

She's across the room now, surrounded by people-critics, dancers, directors-each one throwing words at her like roses. She's radiant, glittering, in a fitted black silk dress with a neckline that could kill a man.

Her hair is swept into a low chignon, her earrings sharp and shimmering.

My baby sister, a star.

She catches my eye and gives me that secret smile. The one that says I know you're watching. You always do.

I raise my glass. She raises a brow, knowing.

Still protective. Always the big brother.
Even when she's more dangerous than any man in this room.

Though let's be honest-I stayed for this after party, even after everyone had gone home, not just to support her.

I stayed because some creep always tries to corner her at these things.

And while Jia can handle herself-God, can she handle herself-this is me we're talking about.

No one's touching my baby sister unless they want a lawsuit with their cocktail.

I hover long enough to make eye contact with her assistant Ae-cha, who flashes me a thumbs-up.

Code for, she's good, oppa, go breathe.

So I do.