Chapter 2
The city was alive in the way only nighttime allowed—neon signs flickering, streetlights buzzing faintly, the distant hum of traffic blending with the occasional shout from a passerby. The scent of rain lingered in the air, though the storm had long since passed. It was the kind of night where most people sought warmth indoors, retreating to their homes, their dorms, their safe spaces.
But not Bae Jinsol.
She stood on the rooftop of a high-rise, her hood pulled over her head, a black mask covering the lower half of her face. From up here, the city stretched out before her like a maze of glowing windows and dark alleys, each one hiding stories she’d never know. But some stories—the ones that threatened to end in fear and violence—those were the ones she couldn’t ignore.
Because she wasn’t just Bae Jinsol, university student.
She was Specter.
She took a slow breath, rolling her shoulders as she let her power settle over her. The moment she tapped into it, the shadows around her responded—rippling, twisting, almost alive. They curled at her feet, stretching toward her fingers as if they were waiting for a command.
She flexed her hand, and the darkness obeyed, swirling up her arm like smoke before dispersing into the night. It was familiar now, this ability of hers. A second skin. A force she had learned to control with precision.
And tonight, she needed it.
Her earpiece crackled to life.
"Another robbery in District 3. Two guys, possibly armed. You gonna check it out?"
Jinsol smirked under her mask.
"Already on my way."
With a single step off the building’s ledge, she let herself fall.
But before she could hit the ground, the shadows beneath her moved.
They reached out, catching her effortlessly, dispersing her weight so she landed without a sound. In the span of seconds, she was gone—slipping through the darkened alleyways, unseen, unheard.
She wasn’t the kind of hero who showed up in broad daylight, basking in the attention of the people she helped. No one even knew her face.
She was a whisper. A flicker of movement in the corner of their eye.
And that was exactly how she wanted it.
As she raced across the rooftops toward District 3, she felt the familiar rush of adrenaline thrumming through her veins.
Tonight, like every night, the city had its dangers.
And Specter was here to stop them.
The alley in District 3 was dimly lit, the flickering streetlight barely reaching past the tall buildings that boxed it in. At the far end, two men stood over a terrified convenience store clerk, who had been dragged outside after his late shift. One of the men shoved him against the brick wall, the other waving a knife dangerously close to his face.
"Just give us the money, old man," one of them snarled. "You don’t wanna get hurt, do you?"
The clerk trembled, his hands raised in surrender.
"I—I've already emptied the register! I swear, I don’t have anything else!"
The thief scoffed. "Lies. You clerks always hide cash somewhere. How about we teach you what happens to—"
A sharp thud cut him off.
Both men froze.
Something had landed behind them.
Or rather, someone.
A figure stood at the entrance of the alley, hood pulled low, shadows clinging to them like they were a part of their very being. The dim light barely illuminated the black mask covering the lower half of their face, but the eyes—those sharp, calculating eyes—were clearly visible.
One of the men swore under his breath.
"Shit. It’s her."
Specter didn’t speak. She rarely did when facing scum like this. Instead, she took a step forward—slow, deliberate. The shadows around her rippled in response, slithering across the pavement like ink in water.
The guy with the knife cursed again before lunging at her.
Big mistake.
Specter moved like a ghost.
One second she was in front of him, the next she was behind—twisting effortlessly, avoiding his wild swing. She caught his wrist mid-air, squeezing just hard enough to make his fingers go numb, and with a sharp twist, the knife clattered to the ground.
The second guy barely had time to react before Specter delivered a sharp kick to his ribs, sending him stumbling backward.
He wheezed, doubling over in pain.
The first guy—angry and reckless—tried to punch her, but she was faster.
She ducked, sweeping his legs out from under him with a smooth, practiced motion. He hit the pavement hard, groaning as the air was knocked out of his lungs.
The other thief, still clutching his ribs, attempted to run.
Specter didn’t even hesitate.
With a flick of her wrist, the shadows responded—surging forward, twisting around his ankle like a snare trap.
He yelped as his leg was yanked out from under him, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
Silence filled the alley, broken only by their pained groans.
Specter exhaled, rolling her shoulders.
Too easy.
The store clerk, still shaken, looked at her in disbelief. "Th-thank you… I don’t know what they would have—"
She simply nodded, already stepping back into the shadows.
By the time the police arrived, she was long gone.
All that remained was the two criminals, tied up neatly by coils of darkness—waiting to be taken away.
Specter never expected to see someone she knew while patrolling the city.
Her nights were usually filled with stopping petty crimes, taking down gang members, and striking fear into criminals who thought they could get away with hurting innocent people. But this?
This was different.
She had been moving along the rooftops, her eyes scanning the streets below, when she heard it—a sharp cry, quickly muffled, followed by the sound of shuffling feet and hushed voices.
Specter's body tensed.
A bad feeling coiled in her stomach.
She leaped onto a lower rooftop, peering over the edge to assess the situation below.
That’s when she saw her.
Seol Yoona.
Jinsol’s breath caught.
Yoona was backed against a brick wall, her usual calm expression replaced by something unfamiliar—wariness. Three men stood in front of her, one gripping her wrist while another blocked her way out. The third leaned in slightly, a sickening smirk on his face.
"Come on, don’t be like that," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with amusement. "We just wanna talk."
Yoona’s jaw clenched. "Let go."
The guy gripping her wrist only tightened his hold.
Wrong move.
Jinsol had already acted before she even realized it.
The shadows wrapped around her, carrying her down in an instant. She landed so silently that none of them noticed—until she took a single step forward.
The man holding Yoona felt it first. A presence. A shift in the air.
He turned his head slightly—and froze.
A figure stood at the edge of the street, hood pulled low, a black mask covering the lower half of their face. Even with the dim streetlight flickering above, the shadows seemed to bend around her, moving unnaturally, clinging to her body as if they were alive.
Her stance was relaxed, almost lazy. But her eyes?
Sharp. Calculating. Deadly.
Yoona turned her head too, her brows furrowing as she took in the sight of the masked vigilante standing before her.
Specter.
She had heard of her before—everyone had. A ghost in the night, a figure who appeared and disappeared without a trace. No one knew what she looked like, no one knew her identity.
She was nothing more than a whisper.
And now, she was standing in front of Yoona, watching.
One of the guys—the one who had spoken earlier—laughed nervously.
"Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Specter didn’t answer.
Instead, she moved.
Before any of them could react, she was already on them.
She went for the one holding Yoona’s wrist first.
Her hand snapped forward, grabbing his arm and twisting it at an unnatural angle. He yelped, releasing Yoona immediately as he stumbled back. Before he could recover, Specter’s knee slammed into his stomach.
He crumpled to the ground, groaning.
The second guy—the one blocking the exit—tried to throw a punch.
Specter sidestepped effortlessly, catching his wrist mid-air. With a sharp twist, she forced him off balance before delivering a clean, calculated kick to the side of his head.
He hit the pavement with a thud.
The last guy stood frozen, eyes darting between his fallen friends and the masked figure who had taken them down in less than ten seconds.
Specter tilted her head slightly. "Run."
The man didn’t need to be told twice.
He turned and bolted down the street, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared into the night.
For a long moment, everything was silent.
The only sounds left were the quiet hum of the city and the faint groans of the two men still on the ground.
Jinsol exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders as she forced her pulse to steady.
Too easy.
She turned her head, finally allowing herself to look at Yoona.
Yoona was still standing there, arms crossed over her chest. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes—her eyes were locked onto Specter like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
Jinsol should have left.
She should have disappeared into the night, like she always did.
But something about the way Yoona was looking at her kept her rooted to the spot.
Specter felt seen.
For a few lingering seconds, there was only silence.
Specter didn’t move. She stood still, watching Yoona, her breathing even despite the brief fight. The city noises faded into the background, the distant hum of cars and flickering streetlights feeling insignificant compared to the way Yoona was looking at her.
Not with fear. Not with shock.
But with recognition.
Then, after what felt like forever—Yoona smiled.
"Specter."
The name rolled off her tongue so casually, as if they had known each other for years. As if she were greeting a friend.
Jinsol didn’t respond, didn’t react. She simply watched, her eyes sharp beneath the mask, waiting.
Yoona exhaled, brushing some hair behind her ear before looking at the unconscious men on the ground. A soft huff of amusement escaped her lips. "I should’ve guessed I’d run into you one day."
Jinsol’s fingers twitched slightly.
She had expected Yoona to be surprised. Maybe even shaken. But instead, she was standing there with a look that was too calm, too knowing.
"You’ve heard of me." It wasn’t a question.
Yoona tilted her head slightly. "Of course."
Her voice was smooth, unbothered, like she was simply stating a fact. "You’ve been a rumor around campus for a while now. People say you’re a myth, a ghost. But I knew you were real."
Specter remained silent.
Yoona glanced at her again, something unreadable in her gaze. "Though… I didn’t expect you to save me."
Something about the way she said that made Jinsol’s chest tighten.
She had saved dozens of people before, maybe even hundreds. Some had thanked her, most had run away in fear. But Yoona…
She wasn’t running.
She wasn’t afraid.
Instead, she took a small step forward, just enough to close the space between them.
Jinsol tensed instinctively, though she didn’t move away.
Yoona studied her closely, her sharp eyes scanning every detail—the curve of the mask, the way the shadows seemed to cling to her like a second skin, the sharpness of her posture.
Then, she smiled again.
"You’re shorter than I expected."
Jinsol blinked.
Out of everything she could have said, that was what she chose?
For the first time in a long while, Specter felt caught off guard.
She shouldn’t have been. She had spent years training herself to stay unreadable, to remain an enigma to those around her. And yet, in the span of a single sentence, Seol Yoona had somehow managed to shake her composure.
Jinsol exhaled slowly, tilting her head slightly. "And you’re reckless."
Yoona’s brows rose slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Excuse me?"
Specter’s voice remained steady, but there was a slight edge to it. "Walking alone at this hour, down an empty street? Either you’re reckless or just stupid."
Yoona scoffed, crossing her arms. "I was just getting coffee."
Jinsol shook her head. "Next time, be more careful."
She could have left it at that. She should have left it at that. But for some reason, the thought of Yoona walking home alone again bothered her.
So, before she could stop herself, she added—
"If something happens again… call for me."
Yoona blinked. "Huh?"
Specter took a step back, the shadows already swirling around her, preparing to carry her away. "I’ll hear you."
Yoona didn’t respond right away.
For the first time since their conversation started, she looked genuinely surprised.
Then, her lips curved into something softer. Something real.
"I hope I see you again, Specter."
Jinsol’s heart skipped a beat.
She didn’t know why.
And before she could think about it too much—
She was gone.
Jinsol moved like a ghost through the city, her footsteps silent as she leaped from rooftop to rooftop. The cool night air brushed against her skin, the distant hum of the city filling the silence. Usually, patrolling helped her clear her mind, let her push away the noise of the day.
But tonight, it wasn’t working.
Because all she could think about was Yoona.
More specifically—Yoona’s smile.
She had always known Seol Yoona was beautiful. That wasn’t up for debate. She had seen people fall for her from a distance, watched as they worked up the courage to approach her, only to be met with indifference or polite rejection.
Yoona had always been a mystery—untouchable, unreadable.
But tonight…
Tonight, for the first time, Jinsol had seen something different.
That small smile Yoona had given her—it wasn’t the polite, practiced one she showed to acquaintances. It wasn’t the teasing smirk she gave Kyujin or her close friends when she was amused.
It was something softer. More genuine.
And it lingered.
Jinsol exhaled sharply, landing on another rooftop. She crouched near the edge, looking down at the city below, trying to push the memory away.
But she couldn’t.
Because for the first time, she understood why Yoona didn’t smile like that often.
It was dangerous.
If Yoona smiled at people like that all the time—if she smiled at Jinsol like that again—
Jinsol wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop thinking about it.
Her fingers twitched at her sides, the phantom feeling of standing in front of Yoona still lingering. The way she had stepped forward just slightly, the way her gaze had locked onto Jinsol’s as if trying to see through her.
"I hope I see you again, Specter."
Yoona had said that so easily, so naturally, like she wasn’t speaking to a masked vigilante. Like she wasn’t talking to someone who operated in the shadows.
Like she was talking to Jinsol.
The thought made Jinsol’s heart skip a beat.
She needed to stop thinking about this.
She had other things to focus on. People to protect. A city to keep safe.
And yet…
As she stood there, high above the streets, watching as the world moved below her—
All she could see was Yoona’s face.
And that damn smile.
On the other side, Yoona couldn’t stop smiling.
Her heart was still racing from the encounter, her fingers twitching with the urge to write everything down before even a single detail faded from memory.
She had just met Specter. Talked to her. Watched her fight.
And she was still standing here, very much alive—and very, very intrigued.
As she walked home, the coffee in her hand now long forgotten and cold, her mind was buzzing with thoughts.
For so long, Specter had been a ghost. A rumor whispered among students, a shadow that moved through the city’s underbelly, appearing only when something needed fixing. Yoona had followed the stories—collected sightings, analyzed the patterns, pieced together every little clue—but tonight, for the first time, she had something real.
She had spoken to Specter.
Watched her fight.
Looked her in the eye.
And, most importantly—she had seen Specter hesitate.
That moment, that brief flicker of something human beneath the mask, was everything.
Her lips curled into an eager smile as she pulled out her phone. She needed to write this down.
She unlocked her private notes, the one she had meticulously maintained over the years, titled:
"Specter – Theories & Sightings."
She clicked on it, scrolled past all the previous entries—half-confirmed rumors, speculations, sketchy witness accounts—until she reached a fresh page.
Then, with a rush of excitement, she started to type.
—
New details about Specter:
1. Height: Not too short not too tall. (Maybe 170 cm? Will need more interactions to confirm.)
2. Voice: Steady. Controlled. Sharp when irritated. (Did I annoy her? Probably. But that means she actually has emotions, and that’s interesting.)
3. Fighting style: Fast. Precise. Brutal. Took down three guys in less than ten seconds. No wasted movement. Clearly trained.
Question: Where did she learn how to fight like that?
Possibilities: Military? Private training? Self-taught vigilante prodigy?
4. Presence: Even when standing still, she felt like she was watching everything. Hyper-aware. Always calculating. (Does she ever relax?)
5. Personality: This is where it gets really interesting.
Based on past reports, I expected her to be cold, distant, purely mission-focused. But—
She lectured me for walking alone at night. (A little rude, but also… kind of sweet?)
She told me to call for her if something happened again. ("I’ll hear you.") What does that mean?
Possibilities: Does she have enhanced hearing? Or was she just being dramatic?
When I smiled at her, she paused.
Hesitated.
That means she’s not as emotionless as she pretends to be.
—
Yoona stopped typing for a moment, rereading her notes, grinning to herself.
She had spent so long thinking about Specter, wondering what she was really like.
And now—she was finally getting answers.
Not just about how Specter fought, but about who she was beneath the mask.
And that last part—the way she had hesitated when Yoona smiled at her—was the most fascinating part of all.
Because why would she hesitate?
Specter was used to dealing with criminals, with thugs, with the worst kinds of people. She was probably used to being feared, being seen as some kind of untouchable phantom.
But tonight, Yoona had stood right in front of her, unafraid.
She had smiled.
And Specter had paused.
That was interesting.
Yoona’s grin widened as she resumed typing.
—
6. Final thoughts:
Specter isn’t just some shadowy figure with a mask. She’s human. And humans have weaknesses.
She tries to hide them, but tonight, she slipped—just for a second.
And I want to see how much more I can uncover.
—
Yoona locked her phone, feeling a thrill run through her.
She wasn’t done.
There were still so many unanswered questions.
Who was Specter when she wasn’t in costume? Where did she go when she wasn’t patrolling? Did she live like a normal person? Did she have a real identity, blending into everyday life?
And, most importantly—
Would she get to see Specter again?
Yoona exhaled, feeling lighter than she had all week.
She had a new puzzle to solve.
And for once, it was a puzzle that felt personal.
Jinsol walked into the café, spotting Kyujin and Haewon already seated at a corner booth, talking animatedly while scrolling through something on Kyujin’s phone.
Yoona was there too—but she was different.
The excitement, the warmth Jinsol had seen in her the night before? Gone.
She sat there, arms crossed, lips pressed into a neutral line, her usual unreadable expression back in place. It was the complete opposite of the girl who had smiled at Specter just hours ago.
Jinsol had to force herself to not react.
Instead, she walked over calmly, setting her bag down as Kyujin waved her over.
“You’re late,” Haewon teased, nudging her. “Did you have some secret superhero mission to attend to?”
Jinsol stiffened for half a second before scoffing. “Yeah, I was out saving the world. What’d I miss?”
“Nothing much,” Kyujin said, leaning back in her chair. “Just deciding how we’re splitting the work. Yoona suggested we do a research-heavy topic.”
Jinsol’s eyes flickered toward Yoona, but Yoona didn’t look up. She was staring at her laptop screen, fingers lazily tapping against the table.
It was weird.
After how expressive she had been last night—even if it was mostly in private thoughts—Jinsol had expected at least some of that curiosity to linger.
But right now, Yoona looked…
Uninterested.
Jinsol hated how much that bothered her.
Haewon sighed dramatically. “I wanted to do something fun, but Yoona’s argument made sense. Something about efficiency and sources being easier to find.” She pouted. “But I’m holding you responsible if this gets boring.”
Yoona finally spoke, her voice cool and even. “We need something manageable within the deadline. I assume none of us want to be stuck doing last-minute work.”
Her tone was professional, detached.
Like she was separating herself.
Why?
Jinsol studied her for a moment, trying to figure it out.
Had something happened between last night and now?
Or—was this just Yoona’s way of acting normal?
Jinsol wouldn’t be surprised if she was overthinking it. Maybe Yoona always kept her distance like this during group projects.
And yet, she couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that something was off.
Because last night, she had smiled.
Last night, she had looked at Specter like she was fascinated.
But now?
She wouldn’t even look at Jinsol.
Jinsol sighed internally, leaning back in her chair.
Maybe she was just imagining things.
Maybe Yoona’s interest had been only for Specter.
And if that was the case—
Jinsol really shouldn’t feel disappointed.
Jinsol wasn’t the type to dwell on unnecessary thoughts. She preferred to focus on things she could control—things that had clear answers.
But as she sat in that café, her fingers absently drumming against the table while Haewon and Kyujin debated over their research approach, her mind refused to cooperate.
It kept drifting back to the same question.
Why was Yoona so different today?
Jinsol glanced at her—just briefly.
Yoona sat across from her, her long dark hair falling neatly over her shoulders, her eyes locked onto her laptop screen as she skimmed through an article. Her expression was calm, neutral. Not exactly cold, but… detached.
And she hadn’t smiled once.
Jinsol didn’t know why that bothered her.
She had seen Yoona like this before. Yoona was known for being a little distant, for carrying herself with a certain graceful indifference. She was polite but uninterested, admired but untouchable.
But last night, she had been different.
Last night, she had looked at Specter with curiosity.
With excitement.
With something real.
And now, sitting across from Jinsol, she barely even acknowledged her.
Why?
Jinsol’s grip on her pen tightened slightly as a ridiculous thought crept into her mind.
Was she ever going to see that smile again?
And worse—was she capable of making Yoona smile the way Specter did?
The realization hit harder than it should have.
Because the way Yoona had looked at Specter last night—it had been genuine. The kind of reaction Jinsol had never seen her give to anyone else before.
It wasn’t just admiration or passing interest. It was fascination. A spark of something undeniably real.
And now, after seeing that, after witnessing it with her own eyes—
Jinsol hated the idea that she might never get to see it again.
That maybe, it wasn’t her that Yoona liked.
That maybe, it was only Specter.
Would Yoona still like Specter if she knew the truth?
Would she still look at her with that same fascination if she knew it was just Jinsol behind the mask?
Would she still smile like that?
Or would she be disappointed?
Jinsol’s stomach twisted at the thought.
She shouldn’t care.
She had no reason to care.
But right now, as she sat in this café with Yoona sitting right across from her, acting as if last night had never happened—
She realized that she did.
And she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.
If Yoona only smiled at Specter, then…
Jinsol would just have to get closer to her as herself.
Not as a masked vigilante. Not as a mysterious figure in the shadows.
Just Bae Jinsol.
She wasn’t sure why she suddenly cared so much. Maybe it was because Yoona was interesting. Maybe it was because she had never seen anyone look at Specter the way Yoona did.
Or maybe, deep down, she was worried.
Worried that Yoona would only like the version of her that wasn’t real.
Either way, she wasn’t about to let that happen.
So, little by little, Jinsol started talking to her.
At first, it was just during their group work. Asking about sources, clarifying points, discussing their research.
But then—she pushed a little further.
“Do you always pick research-heavy topics?” Jinsol asked one evening, casually twirling her pen between her fingers.
Yoona glanced up from her laptop, blinking at her. “Huh?”
“For projects,” Jinsol clarified. “Do you always choose something like this? Efficient and logical?”
Yoona tilted her head slightly, considering the question. “It depends. But I prefer topics with clear answers.”
Jinsol hummed. “That’s pretty fitting.”
Yoona raised a brow. “Fitting?”
“You seem like the type who doesn’t like wasting time on things you can’t solve.”
Yoona didn’t react right away. She looked at Jinsol for a moment, as if trying to figure something out, before finally nodding.
“That’s true,” she admitted. “I don’t like unanswered questions.”
Jinsol smiled a little. Interesting.
But instead of letting the conversation end there, she pushed further.
“What about outside of school?” she asked. “Do you do anything for fun?”
Yoona blinked again, clearly not expecting the question.
“…Writing,” she answered after a pause.
Jinsol tried not to react too obviously. Writing.
Specter already knew that.
But Jinsol didn’t want to act like she did.
So instead, she nodded, keeping her expression neutral. “What kind of writing?”
Yoona hesitated for just a fraction of a second. Then, with the faintest smirk, she said, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Jinsol raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Try me.”
Yoona leaned back in her chair slightly, crossing her arms. “I write about Specter.”
Jinsol kept her expression completely still.
“Oh?” she said, as casually as possible. “Like… what? Stories?”
Yoona shook her head. “Not stories. More like… analysis. I collect information, compare theories, piece together details. You could call it research, I guess.”
Jinsol’s heart was pounding, but she forced herself to remain calm.
She wanted to laugh at the irony.
Here she was, sitting right across from Yoona—the very subject of her research—and Yoona had no idea.
Instead, she tilted her head, feigning mild curiosity. “You must be a big fan, then.”
Yoona hesitated at that, eyes flickering downward for a second.
“…Something like that,” she admitted.
And for a brief moment—just for a second—Jinsol thought she saw the same fascination in Yoona’s eyes that she had seen last night.
But this time, Yoona wasn’t looking at Specter.
She was looking at her.
Jinsol didn’t know what that meant yet.
But she knew one thing for sure.
She wasn’t done getting closer.
Jinsol had always been good at reading people. It was a skill that came with being a hero—you had to predict your opponent’s next move, anticipate their weaknesses, understand what made them tick.
And right now, she was using that skill on Seol Yoona.
The girl who had barely smiled at her but had beamed at Specter. The girl who studied her, wrote about her, believed in her.
Jinsol wasn’t sure why it mattered.
But it did.
So, as they sat in the library, working on their project, she decided to test something.
It wasn’t a big deal. Just a little experiment.
Casually, as if she were just making conversation, she leaned back in her chair and said, “I don’t get why people are so obsessed with Specter.”
Silence.
Jinsol didn’t even have to look up to know she had caught Yoona’s attention.
She could feel it—the shift in the air, the way the other girl’s fingers froze mid-typing, the way her posture stiffened ever so slightly.
Still, Jinsol kept her expression neutral, pretending not to notice.
“I mean, sure, she’s strong,” she continued. “But isn’t she a little overhyped? There are other vigilantes out there, but no one talks about them the way they talk about her.”
This time, she did look up—just in time to see Yoona’s eyes sharpen.
For someone who usually kept her emotions in check, Yoona looked seriously unimpressed.
“She’s different,” Yoona said, her tone measured.
Jinsol tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “Different how?”
Yoona exhaled, as if trying to stay patient.
“She doesn’t just fight,” she explained. “She thinks. She’s not just some reckless vigilante running around the city—she has a strategy. A pattern. She takes risks, but they’re calculated. And most importantly—”
She hesitated for a second, then said, “She helps people.”
Jinsol’s breath hitched—just for a second.
Not because of what Yoona said.
But because of how she said it.
So certain. So unshakable.
Like it was a fact, an undeniable truth.
Like she truly believed in Specter.
Jinsol wasn’t sure why that made her feel something.
But she wasn’t about to dwell on it.
Instead, she smirked, keeping her tone light. “That’s a pretty detailed analysis. You sure you’re not secretly in love with her?”
Yoona rolled her eyes, but—
There it was.
The faintest dusting of pink at the tips of her ears.
Jinsol felt an unexpected surge of satisfaction.
“It’s not like that,” Yoona muttered, looking back at her laptop.
Jinsol didn’t push any further.
She didn’t need to.
She had her answer.
Yoona didn’t just like Specter.
She admired her.
She believed in her.
And Jinsol—who had spent so long keeping herself separate from the mask, from the identity, from the expectations—
Didn’t know what to do with that.
After hours of research, typing, and quiet discussions, their group work was finally done for the day.
Kyujin stretched with an exaggerated groan. “I swear, if I read one more academic paper today, my brain is going to explode.”
Haewon chuckled, gathering her things. “Agreed. My limit for being productive has been reached.”
Jinsol leaned back in her chair, feeling a familiar itch—the restlessness that came when she’d been sitting still for too long. She had spent hours in this library, pretending to be a normal student, when she knew that later tonight, she’d be out there—as Specter, moving between rooftops, looking for trouble to stop.
But right now, she wasn’t Specter.
Right now, she was Bae Jinsol.
And Bae Jinsol had something else on her mind.
As Kyujin and Haewon started saying their goodbyes, Jinsol turned to Yoona, who was quietly packing up her things.
Now or never.
“Hey,” Jinsol said, casually slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Wanna get drinks?”
Yoona’s hands stilled for half a second before she looked up, brows slightly raised. “Huh?”
“Drinks,” Jinsol repeated. “Nothing crazy. Just to unwind after all this.”
Yoona hesitated. Jinsol could practically see her debating it in her head.
She wasn’t the type to go out often—at least, not from what Jinsol had observed. She was always polite, always composed, but there was a certain distance to her, like she kept everyone at arm’s length.
Jinsol half-expected her to say no.
But instead—
“…Sure,” Yoona said, closing her bag.
Kyujin and Haewon—who had been very obviously listening—exchanged a quick glance before grinning at each other.
Jinsol ignored them.
“Great,” she said smoothly. “Let’s go.”
They ended up at a small café near campus, a cozy little place tucked between larger buildings. It wasn’t too crowded—just a few students scattered around, soft music playing in the background, the faint hum of conversation filling the air.
Jinsol had been here a few times before. It was a good place to unwind.
Or, in this case, a good place to observe Yoona in a different setting.
They ordered their drinks, then found a quiet table by the window.
For the first few minutes, neither of them spoke.
Yoona was absently stirring her drink, her eyes drifting toward the city outside, watching the streetlights flicker and the occasional passerby walking past the window.
She looked… peaceful.
Jinsol leaned back in her chair, watching her for a moment before finally breaking the silence.
“You surprised me earlier.”
Yoona glanced at her, tilting her head slightly. “How?”
Jinsol smirked, taking a sip of her drink. “You got pretty passionate about Specter.”
Yoona paused.
Then, instead of looking flustered or embarrassed, she simply shrugged.
“She’s interesting.”
Jinsol rested her chin on her hand, pretending to be thoughtful. “You really admire her, huh?”
Yoona looked at her properly this time, studying her for a moment before saying, “Wouldn’t you?”
Jinsol blinked. “…Me?”
“She saves people,” Yoona said, her voice steady. “You don’t think that’s admirable?”
Jinsol hesitated, fingers curling slightly around her cup.
Of course she did.
She had spent years doing exactly that. She had thrown herself into fights, made enemies out of criminals, risked her safety night after night.
But she had never thought about herself that way.
She wasn’t some untouchable hero.
She wasn’t the symbol that people believed her to be.
She was just a girl who happened to be good at fighting and bad at staying out of trouble.
But Yoona didn’t see it that way.
Yoona spoke about Specter like she was something more.
Like she was worth admiring.
“…Yeah,” Jinsol finally said, looking down at her drink. “I guess I do.”
Yoona didn’t say anything else.
But for the first time since they had met, her lips curved into the barest hint of a smile.
And Jinsol—who had seen Yoona’s real, unguarded smile only once before—felt something stir in her chest.
Maybe—just maybe—she could make Yoona smile like that more often.
Not as Specter.
But as herself.
Jinsol was asking questions.
Not the usual kind—the ones people asked just to fill the silence.
No, these were different.
They were pointed. Intentional.
She was actually curious.
Small ones at first—harmless, casual things. But Jinsol had a way of digging deeper without making it feel like an interrogation.
“So, you like writing,” Jinsol mused, stirring her drink lazily. “What kind of stuff do you write?”
Yoona paused, considering her answer.
“I… just write whatever I find interesting.”
Jinsol raised an eyebrow. “That’s vague.”
Yoona huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. “Fine. I like writing about things that don’t have clear answers. Things that people speculate about but never fully understand.”
Jinsol leaned forward slightly, her interest obvious. “Like Specter?”
Yoona’s fingers instinctively tightened around her cup.
“Yeah,” she admitted after a moment. “She’s… different.”
Jinsol tilted her head, studying her. “And you’ve never thought about making up your own hero instead? Like, creating your own legend?”
Yoona gave a small, thoughtful smile.
“I could,” she admitted. “But real people are more interesting.”
Jinsol chuckled. “That’s one way to put it.”
Yoona expected the conversation to end there, but Jinsol wasn’t done.
“What about when you’re not writing?” she asked, resting her chin on her hand. “What do you do for fun?”
Yoona blinked.
It was such a simple question. Something normal, something that anyone could answer easily.
But for some reason, she had to actually think about it.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I read, sometimes. I go for walks.”
Jinsol gave her an unimpressed look. “That’s it?”
Yoona lifted an eyebrow. “What, did you expect me to say I go skydiving on weekends?”
Jinsol snorted, shaking her head. “I don’t know, maybe something a little more exciting.”
Yoona stared at her for a moment before tilting her head slightly.
“What about you?” she asked, flipping the question back on her. “What do you do for fun?”
Jinsol grinned, as if she had been waiting for Yoona to ask.
“I box,” she said easily. “I go for night runs. I like moving. Can’t sit still for too long.”
That… made sense.
Jinsol always had this restless energy about her, even when she was sitting still. Like she was waiting for something to happen.
Yoona wasn’t surprised when Jinsol said she loved exercising.
She had already noticed.
It was hard not to.
Jinsol didn’t talk about it much, but the signs were there—the way she moved, the way she carried herself. Confident, effortless, like someone who was completely at home in her own body.
And, of course, there was the obvious.
The toned abs that sometimes peeked through when Jinsol wore a crop top.
The subtle definition in her arms when she lifted them to stretch.
The way her veins became visible on her hands when she flexed her fingers.
Yoona wasn’t staring—not really.
But she noticed.
She always had a sharp eye for details, and Jinsol made it impossible to ignore them.
Jinsol was strong.
Not just in the way athletes were, but in a way that felt natural. Like she didn’t just work out for aesthetics or health, but because her body was built for movement.
A habit.
Yoona didn’t quite understand it, but she found herself curious.
Most people who exercised did it with a goal in mind—getting stronger, looking better, competing in something. But Jinsol spoke about it like it was just a part of her life, something she did without thinking.
Something she couldn’t stop doing.
Yoona leaned forward slightly. “Do you fight in competitions?”
Jinsol shrugged. “Not really. It’s more of a… habit.”
A habit?
For a second, Yoona wondered if it was connected to something deeper.
Then Jinsol smirked at her, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Yoona didn’t get the chance to ask more.
“Alright, your turn,” she said, pointing at Yoona. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
Yoona hesitated, then sighed. “I like cats.”
Jinsol blinked.
“That’s it?”
Yoona crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “What, did you expect some deep, life-changing fact?”
Jinsol laughed, shaking her head. “No, no, I just thought you were about to say something serious. But okay—cats. Noted.”
Yoona rolled her eyes but found herself smiling just a little.
This conversation was… different.
Jinsol wasn’t just talking for the sake of talking.
She was actually trying to get to know her.
And for some reason, Yoona didn’t mind.
The conversation had started off light, just simple back-and-forth banter, but somehow, it had taken a turn neither of them had expected.
Dating history.
Yoona wasn’t sure how they ended up on the topic, but Jinsol didn’t seem uncomfortable. If anything, she was surprisingly relaxed, leaning back in her chair, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her drink.
Then, out of nowhere, she said it.
“I’ve never dated anyone.”
Yoona blinked. “Never?”
Jinsol shook her head. “Nope.”
That was… unexpected.
Jinsol was popular. Not in an overly flashy way, but she had this energy—the kind of confidence that naturally drew people in. She was outgoing, easy to talk to, and had a presence that made people gravitate toward her.
Yoona had assumed she must have dated before.
At least once.
“…Not even once?” Yoona asked, just to be sure.
Jinsol smirked, as if amused by Yoona’s curiosity. “Not even once.”
Yoona studied her for a moment, trying to find any trace of discomfort or regret on her face, but there was none. Jinsol said it so easily, as if it wasn’t something she had to justify or explain.
“I’ve never kissed anyone either,” Jinsol added casually. “Not even on the cheek.”
Yoona stared at her.
“Wait, seriously?”
Jinsol laughed softly. “Why is that so shocking?”
Yoona frowned slightly, struggling to put it into words. It wasn’t shocking, exactly—it was just… unexpected.
Someone like Jinsol, who had people constantly noticing her, who could probably have anyone she wanted—how had she never even kissed someone?
“…By choice?” Yoona asked carefully.
Jinsol hummed in thought before nodding. “Yeah. It’s not like I haven’t had chances. I just never felt like doing it.”
Yoona narrowed her eyes slightly. “So it’s not that no one’s ever confessed to you?”
Jinsol scoffed, shaking her head. “Oh no, that’s definitely happened.”
Of course, it has.
Yoona had seen it with her own eyes before—people drawn to Jinsol, approaching her with nervous smiles, only to be turned down.
She had always assumed Jinsol was just picky.
“…And you turned them all down?”
Jinsol gave a small shrug, taking a sip of her drink. “Yeah. It never felt… right.”
Yoona stared at her for a moment.
There was no hesitation in Jinsol’s voice. No regret, no doubt. Just pure, simple honesty.
She wasn’t ashamed of it.
She wasn’t acting like it was some tragic thing.
It was just how it was.
For some reason, that made Yoona’s heart feel… strange.
She wasn’t sure why.
She should have just let it go—moved on to another topic.
But instead, she found herself curious.
“…Do you want to?” Yoona asked before she could stop herself.
Jinsol blinked at her, eyebrows raising slightly. “Want to what?”
Yoona hesitated for a fraction of a second.
“…Date. Kiss. All of it.”
For the first time, Jinsol actually looked like she had to think about it.
She rested her chin on her hand, staring off to the side as if considering the question properly.
“Maybe,” she said finally. “If it’s the right person.”
Yoona felt her heart skip—just a little.
She quickly looked away, sipping her drink to ignore whatever that feeling was.
Jinsol, as usual, seemed completely unaware.
Or maybe… she wasn’t.
Yoona had been the one asking questions this whole time, but Jinsol wasn’t about to let her get away without answering some of her own.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Yoona’s face. “What about you?”
Yoona blinked, caught off guard. “…What about me?”
Jinsol smirked. “Your dating history.”
Yoona’s fingers lightly tapped against her cup, as if thinking about how to respond.
“I’ve dated,” she said simply.
Jinsol wasn’t surprised by that.
Unlike herself, Yoona wasn’t the type to be outgoing, but she had an aura that made people notice her. She was quiet but captivating, beautiful in a way that made others want to get closer—even if she rarely let them.
Jinsol tilted her head. “And?”
Yoona sighed, glancing to the side. “And nothing. It never lasted long.”
Jinsol raised an eyebrow. “Never?”
Yoona shook her head. “Nope.”
Jinsol considered that for a moment. “Why not?”
Yoona was silent for a second, her lips pressing together slightly before she finally spoke.
“They always expected something,” she admitted. “Like… I had to be a certain way, act a certain way. And when I wasn’t, it just didn’t work out.”
Jinsol frowned slightly. “They didn’t like you for you?”
Yoona let out a soft laugh, but there was no humor in it. “I don’t think they ever really knew me.”
Jinsol didn’t like the sound of that.
She could tell that Yoona wasn’t saying it to be dramatic—she was just stating a fact.
But it still annoyed her.
Because Yoona wasn’t boring.
She wasn’t some unreadable mystery. She was just… selective. Careful about who she let in.
And for some reason, Jinsol wanted to be one of the few who did get to know her.
“…So you’ve kissed people before,” Jinsol said after a beat, changing the subject slightly.
Yoona nodded. “Yeah.”
Jinsol tried to ignore the strange feeling in her chest.
“And?”
Yoona blinked at her. “What do you mean, ‘and’?”
Jinsol shrugged. “Did you like it?”
Yoona stared at her for a second, then huffed a small laugh. “You really don’t hold back, do you?”
Jinsol grinned. “Nope.”
Yoona sighed, but Jinsol noticed the corners of her lips twitch slightly—like she was amused.
“…It was fine,” Yoona admitted. “Not as special as people make it seem.”
Jinsol raised an eyebrow. “So, no fireworks? No heart racing?”
Yoona shook her head. “Not really.”
Jinsol tilted her head. “Maybe you just haven’t kissed the right person.”
She didn’t mean for it to sound… suggestive.
But the moment the words left her mouth, she saw Yoona’s expression shift slightly.
It was subtle, but it was there.
A flicker of something in her eyes.
Then, just as quickly, she looked away, taking a sip of her drink as if dismissing the thought.
Jinsol wasn’t sure why, but that reaction made her curious.
Very, very curious.