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

Chapter 124: Love in the Tension Lines

A dry, derisive "pfft" like a human reaction gif.

Joon hyung, who is seated beside him, keeps subtly pinching his leg under the table every time he does it-like a parent at church whispering, "Behave."

I can see the cycle play out in real time:

Gab: "Remember when we got lost in the cafeteria line and ended up eating only rice and ketchup?"

Y/N noona: giggles

Jimin hyung: *snort*

Joon hyung: *squeeze*

Jimin hyung glares at Joon hyung with one raised eyebrow and then drinks cocoa with silent sass.

It's performance art at this point.

And me? I'm just trying not to choke on my rice.

Halfway through my world-class Olympic-level pouting, Gabriel leans in again toward Y/N noona, lifting his fork like he's about to propose marriage to the beef.

Noona then tugs a fry from his plate and nibbles it with a grin. The motion is so domestic, so natural, it punches me harder than any insult.

I clamp my jaw shut, steel my spoon, and pretend the eggs aren't perfect.

"You guys did such a great job at this, the tapa is so tender" he says, beaming at Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung like he's the damn culinary ambassador of the Philippines.

Dude. Seriously?

You're not even talking to Noona right now.
Why are you leaning in like you're trying to share breath? Back. Up.

That's it. I hate him. Officially. Irrevocably. Categorically.

Yoongi hyung gives him a polite half-smile and goes back to his rice like he's debating whether or not to murder someone with chopsticks.

Jin hyung, on the other hand, lets out a forced laugh so high-pitched and sudden that Hobi hyung jumps like he's been tasered mid-bite-and nearly dies on a piece of tapa.

Yoongi hyung instantly turns to him in concern, patting his back and offering his water like the Mother Teresa of Meat Mishaps.

Meanwhile, Jimin hyung is cackling at the scene. Full-body shaking, silent-laugh mode.

He nearly falls out of his chair, hand slapping the table as tears threaten to leak from his eyes.

Glad someone's thriving, I think, stuffing a giant spoonful of garlic rice in my mouth like it's an emotional support snack.

As Gab tucks in again, his elbow brushes Noona's hand.

A casual graze-but it sends a spark across the table that I swear even Yeontan turned to watch.

I shove another forkful of garlic rice into my mouth, trying so hard not to choke.