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

Chapter 111: Before the Break Becomes A Ruin

Yoongi raises an eyebrow midway. "That's airtight."

Coming from him, that's like applause.

Dara leans in. "Honestly? This is solid, Y/N. Really solid."

A few heads nod around the table.
Trina's eyes light up.

I look at Joon.
He hasn't moved.

Then finally, he speaks.
"We can't launch this."

The room freezes.
Even the AC hum feels louder.

"Not yet," he adds. "It's still not safe enough."

I blink. Already bracing.

"Joon..." My voice is careful, clipped.

"You read the encryption flow. You helped write it. This is safer than 90% of live platforms out there."

His voice stays low-but tight.

"That's not the point."

He leans forward.

"The point is-this exposes people. Even if we only expose one person to harm-one-that's on us."

I stand. Slowly.
My breath catches.

"And how many people stay alone in the dark because we keep hesitating? How many people never reach out because we're too scared to give them a hand to hold?"

His jaw tenses.

"That's not what I'm saying."

"You are. Just in a softer tone."

Yoongi shifts in his seat.
Dara straightens.
Jae lowers his pen.

Joon's voice sharpens.

"You don't get it. I've been on the frontlines of this for years. I've seen what happens when we move too fast. One leak. One breach. One wrong connection-"

I couldn't help but cut him short.

"And I've spent my whole damn professional life building something to make people feel seen-not erased, not filtered, not regulated into silence."

He stands now, too.
The air tightens like a wire stretched between us.

Joon then stares right at me.

"You think this is about you feeling seen? You think this project is about you?"

Silence.

I flinch.
Like he's slapped me with all the moments we've shared.

Yoongi exhales. Hard.
Closes his laptop with a loud snap.

"Meeting adjourned."
_____________________________

Yoongi doesn't speak.
Neither do I.

His car is quiet, but not peaceful.
The kind of quiet that hurts.