Réka drew in a deep breath, feeling the tight squeeze of panic in her chest. Time was slipping away. The bus she needed to catch was already moving down the street, and if she stayed by his side, she would almost certainly miss her flight. But leaving him like this—barely able to stand, exhausted, struggling—was impossible.

“I’ll call a taxi,” she said at last, forcing a confident smile. “We’ll go together. I’m headed to the airport too.”

Viktor’s eyes, heavy with worry, met hers.

“I don’t want you to miss your flight… You’ve already done so much for me.”

“Don’t worry,” Réka said softly. “If we left together, we’ll arrive together.”

Racing Against Time

The taxi arrived within minutes. Réka helped Viktor carefully into the backseat, mindful of his injured ankle. She slid in beside him, trying to appear calm, though every glance at her watch made her stomach knot. Viktor noticed.

“You’re in a hurry, aren’t you?” he asked quietly. “If you want, I can get out somewhere closer. I’ll manage.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Réka replied firmly. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

He studied her for a long moment, as if he wanted to say something… but chose silence instead.

At the Airport

When they reached the terminal, only ten minutes remained before boarding closed. Réka almost bolted from the car, but seeing Viktor struggle, she didn’t hesitate to turn back.

“Come on… we might still make it!” she urged, helping him along.

Inside, a loud announcement rang out:

“Boarding for flight 417 is now closed.”

Réka froze. Her heart sank.

It was over. She had missed it.

All the plans she had imagined—seeing her friend again, sharing laughter, coffee, memories stolen by years apart—vanished in an instant. Yet, she knew she had made the right choice. She hoped.

A Surprising Twist

Viktor stood there, fragile and helpless.

“You… really missed it?” he asked carefully.

Réka nodded, forcing a smile.

“It’s okay. I’ll rebook. The important thing is… you didn’t miss your flight.”

Viktor let out a quiet laugh, tinged with pain.

“I missed it too. We came together in the car. If you didn’t make it… neither did I.”

Réka blinked in confusion.

“And your flight?”

He pulled out his phone, dialed quickly, and calmly said:

“Hold flight 210 for forty minutes. I’m on my way.”

Réka fell silent.

“You… who are you?”

Viktor finally exhaled.

“Time for proper introductions. I’m Viktor Lévai, owner of LévaiAir. Today we’re inaugurating a new terminal across the country. They could start without me… but I didn’t want them to.”

Réka’s eyes widened.

“The airline owner?! You… you waited for your flight because of me?”

“No,” he shook his head. “I waited because I wanted to. And because… I wanted to tell you something.”

He leaned closer.

“What you did today… people like that are rare. You knew you were risking your own schedule, yet you helped a stranger. It means more to me than you know.”

Réka flushed, embarrassed.

“I just did what anyone would…”

“No. Not anyone,” Viktor said softly, but with weight. “And I want to repay that kindness.”

The Private Flight

Réka protested.

“You don’t have to… really. If I missed it, I missed it. Life moves on.”

Viktor saw the disappointment in her eyes, even when she didn’t speak it. A few moments later, he was back on the phone. After brief instructions, he ended the call.

“In twenty minutes, a private plane arrives. Smaller, direct to your destination. You’ll see your friend today.”

Réka couldn’t speak.

“I… I can’t accept this…”

“Yes, you can. Accept it. Today you saved someone—not just physically, but as a human being. You reminded me there is still goodness in the world. I needed that more than you know.”

Fate in Motion

Réka lowered her eyes, then whispered:

“And you? Will you make the inauguration?”

Viktor smiled.

“I’ll be late. I need to escort a lady to her flight first.”

They were led to a private entrance. Réka was overwhelmed by the quiet corridors, the VIP lounge, and the polite staff—but Viktor’s calm presence steadied her.

At the waiting area, he paused.

“Réka… thank you. For everything.”

“I thank you… for being so… incredible today,” she replied, smiling.

Viktor laughed softly.

“I hope I didn’t scare you.”

“Just surprised,” she corrected, eyes twinkling.

For a single second, they were the only two in the world—airplanes, announcements, and crowds fading away. Two strangers, brought together by chance… something more had begun.

A Glimmer of Something More

“If you return… maybe we could grab a coffee?” Viktor asked quietly, uncertain.

Réka smiled.

“Maybe not just coffee.”

His eyes lit up.

“Then… until next time.”

He gently touched her hand. Just then, the boarding call rang. Réka started walking, but turned at the top of the stairs. Viktor stood there, leaning on his crutch, watching her.

In that moment, she realized: this was no accident.

It was fate.