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

Chapter 116: Echoes of a Former Home

"How long's he staying?"

"Oh," Y/N said, as if she hadn't expected the question so soon.

"Just a couple of months, for now. He's here consulting on a mixed-use development near the river. Might be extended, depending on how the client negotiations go."

"I see," Joon murmured, nodding. His tone was pleasant, but his eyes were... analyzing. Watching.

That CEO-brain of his already five chess moves ahead.

"I think he's cool," Jimin piped up, tone teasing. "Will he be visiting often?"

Y/N laughed, gently nudging his shin with her socked foot.

"He promised he'd help with Kook's studio layout and Hobi's digital shoot space. He's good at optimizing flow, you know? Like energy lines and-"

"Isn't that great?!" she added, excited. "Free architectural advice."

There was a chorus of vague sounds. Mismatched hums of agreement.
Jin hyung coughed behind his mug.

"Yeah, that's... generous of him," Hobi said, smiling with all his teeth.

One of his hands reached out automatically, tugging Jungkook a little closer where he sat beside him on the floor.

Kook, who had been nearly silent for the last thirty minutes, finally muttered, "We don't need him."

Hobi nudged his side gently. Not scolding-just grounding him, like he always did.

"I mean..." Taehyung said from the stairs, halfway into the shadows, arms crossed and his sketchpad under one arm.

"I don't like his face."

Y/N blinked. "What?"

"It's annoying." Tae paused. "Too symmetrical. It's suspicious."

That earned a soft laugh from a few of us, even Jimin chuckled as he leaned into Tae's leg, smirking.

"I second that. Symmetry is a red flag."

Y/N rolled her eyes, grinning. "You're all ridiculous."

But I saw the flicker. That brief moment where her smile didn't quite meet her eyes.

"Anyway," Tae added, already halfway up the stairs, "I'm gonna sketch Wacha before she changes position. Again."

"Make sure to capture her contempt," Jin hyung called after him, voice dry. "She's in peak judge mode tonight."

Y/N's eyes drifted around the room, taking everyone in. She seemed... unsure. And that unsettled me more than anything else.

She shouldn't feel like she was defending something safe.

And Gabriel?
Gabriel was safe.

I knew it. We all knew it.
That didn't mean I liked it.

I pulled her into my bedroom and caressed her face.