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

Chapter 111: Before the Break Becomes A Ruin

But I couldn't stop any of them, and I couldn't stop my truth from spilling out any longer. It was like the dam had broken.

"I was the one who let him rip Joon from me. I didn't fight back. I let him break me-break us. I was weak. I am weak. And now, all of you... all of this-"

"I hate that you think that," Jimin said suddenly, voice cracking as he stepped forward.

"I hate that you blame yourself for what a cruel, manipulative man did to you."

His eyes locked with mine, red-rimmed but burning.

Jimin took another shaky step toward me, his whole body quivering with unreleased emotion.

"I knew," he whispered. "Jia told me... in pieces. Not everything. But enough to know you've been hurting for a long time."

He reached out for me, and I took his hand like it was the only thing tethering me to the earth.

"I didn't know how bad it was," he said.

"I didn't know how much you and Joon hyung went through. I didn't ask, because I was scared. But I'm not scared now."

I looked at him-his sweet face twisted in grief and guilt and love-and my heart split open.

I look towards Hobi and Kook. Their eyes twisting in pain and love and concern as they look towards me. Wanting to hear the entire story.

Yoongi squeezed my hand and steps forward. "I'll tell you," he breathed looking towards them.

"You all deserve to know."

I looked at Yoongi.
His eyes were haunted, but he nodded once, firm.

Jimin exhaled as he reached for Tae, who took his hand without a word.

Hobi and Jungkook holding each other through it.

And then Yoongi and Tae proceeded to tell them our story, all of it.

Me and Joon.
My father.
The NDA's.

The media blockouts about my connections to them during Tae's trial.

My engagement to Dara.

Using my wealth and power to stop the world from knowing about this beautiful bond, this love, this home.

The sob that tore from Hobi was guttural.

"You were in love. And you had to hide it?" he cried.

"He made you think that leaving was the only way to save each other" Jimin added, his voice laced with anger.

Kook stepped forward, voice hesitant but strong. "I knew about the breakup. About the engagement. About the media black outs, you told us in passing, but not like this. Not the weight of it. Not how much it cost you both."

"I couldn't tell you how deep it was," I whispered.

"Because it still hurts. Every time I see Joon, I think about what we lost. And now-this? With Y/N?"

Jimin nodded, his eyes rimmed and tears still flowing, but his voice was laced with resolve, like a finality. "I understand now."

"And?" I asked. "Do you hate me for it?"

He shook his head violently and suddenly threw himself into my arms.

"No," he cried further.

"No, hyung. I love you for it. For surviving it. For still believing in us despite it. For fighting even when you were scared."