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

Chapter 116: Echoes of a Former Home

God, it shouldn't bother me. He wasn't doing anything wrong. Not technically.

Still-

"I bet his buildings are all square and boring," I muttered under my breath, poking at a piece of roasted tomato.

"Taehyung," Jin hyung warned, not looking up from his plate.

"Not everyone has to design staircases that look like museum sculptures," Joon added softly, though his hand found my knee under the table, squeezing gently.

Grounding me.

"I'm just saying," I mumbled, stuffing a grape into my mouth. "The guy gives off... mid-century furniture energy."

Hobi hyung snorted, choking slightly on his wine as he reached over and patted Kook's thigh, squeezing it with fingers that lingered a little longer than usual.

It didn't go unnoticed.

Jungkook, who had been stone-silent most of dinner, let out a slow breath, jaw still tight.

His eyes flicked between Gab's hand on noona's shoulder and the fork in front of him like he was deciding which one to stab.

Even Bam-who normally dozed off under the table-was sitting alert beside Kook's chair like a silent Doberman bodyguard.

His tail didn't wag. Just stayed stiff against the floor.

Tannie had climbed onto the couch behind us and stared at Gab like he owed him a royalty check.

And Wacha? She was the only one acting normal, her tail flicking lazily as I scratched her side. But she kept glancing at me like she knew.

"You okay, bear cub?" Y/N noona asked across the table, voice filled with concern when she caught me staring.

I smiled. Big. Bright.
Too many teeth.

"Peachy," I said.

She frowned, like she wasn't buying it-but Gab cut in, grinning.

"Hey, Tabs, remember that summer when we snuck out of the church retreat to buy ice cream from that tindahan near the pier?"

Noona snorted. "And you tripped over that jeepney bumper and dropped all our Cornettos?"

He clutched his heart. "Still the worst day of my life."

"I carried you and your scraped knees back to camp, drama king."

"Oh, so that's where you learned to carry full-grown men," Yoongi hyung muttered, just loud enough.

Gab didn't notice. Or maybe he did, but he was too used to banter to take it as a warning.

I caught Jimin watching me from across the table, a curious look in his eyes.

He was analyzing the vibe like a scientist in a drama. Slow sips of his wine, leaning slightly towards Yoongi hyung like they were tuning into the same radio frequency.