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

Chapter 118: Little Fires, Brighter Flames

He held them out like offerings. "For the rain-drenched lovers."

"Shut up," I muttered, snatching them, but even I was smiling.

Jimin took his set, grinning sheepishly, still pink in the cheeks.

Then he looked up at me.
Just a glance. Just a blink.
But I felt it like gravity.

It was still there-that thing between us.
The promise of earlier. The pull.

He reached for my hand again.
And I didn't let go.

We changed quickly, came back out in fresh clothes with our wet ones bundled in a laundry basket.

The room had rearranged itself in our absence.

Y/N now tucked between Jin hyung and Joon, legs curled beneath her, head leaning back against hyung's shoulder.

Namjoon held her hand, thumb rubbing slow circles over her palm like he was memorizing the shape of it.

Tae and Kook still huddled in the corner.

Jungkook with his arms slung loosely around Tae's waist, Tae curled slightly toward him, eyes flickering with affection like he was watching the stars in real time.

Hobi was sprawled across the floor, head now resting in Y/N's lap, her fingers idly combing through his hair.

His other hand reached up to tug gently at Jungkook's sock like a toddler demanding attention.

Jimin and I moved to the space just beside Wacha's tower.

She didn't move, just adjusted her tail like she was silently judging Jimin for coming home with the wrong boy again.

"Tough crowd," he whispered, glancing at her.

"She likes you more than she likes me," I replied. "You're safe."

"She clawed my ankle last week."

"Affection."

He let out a laugh and leaned into my side.
I couldn't help it. I wrapped an arm around his waist, drew him in tight.

He sighed against my shoulder. And I swore I could feel his heartbeat slow.

Later, snacks were refilled, drinks replaced with tea and warm cider, Tannie curled like a cinnamon bun in Jin hyung's lap and Bam sprawled out over my socked feet like a weighted heater.

The conversation had looped back around-Gabriel's name had popped up again.

"He texted," Y/N murmured absently, glancing at her phone. "He sent me a sketch of the new cabinet design."

There was a flicker in the room.
Not loud. Not obvious.
But there.

Namjoon's eyes tightened ever so slightly.
Hobi's jaw twitched.

Jungkook's grip on Tae's arm flexed.
Even Jin hyung's easy expression cooled, just a little.

And me?
I stared at the way she smiled at her phone.
Like it was familiar. Easy.

It wasn't that I didn't trust her.
It was that I hated the idea that someone else knew her first.

"Tae," Jin hyung said, smoothly redirecting, "tell us about the new VR update. Is the soul sanctuary feature live?"

Tae, bless him, caught the shift immediately. He beamed.