Valindra folded her arms and stared at Methon.

"Now you're taking me to the next station before the next train arrives."

"You made me miss my train."

"So you're responsible."

Methon looked at her for a long moment.

He wasn't used to people arguing with him.

Especially not a girl who had known him for less than an hour.

Finally, he let out a quiet sigh.

"...Fine."

A faint smile appeared on Valindra's face.

"I knew you'd say yes."

Without another word, Methon walked out of the railway station and stopped beside a taxi.

"Next station," he told the driver.

"As fast as possible."

The driver looked at him through the rear-view mirror.

"It'll cost extra."

"I don't care."

"Just drive."

Valindra happily opened the back door and sat inside.

"You know," she said with a grin, "you look angry even when you're helping someone."

Methon ignored her.

The taxi sped through the empty roads while the city lights rushed past the windows.

After several minutes, the next railway station finally came into view.

"We're here!" the driver announced.

Valindra jumped out before the taxi had fully stopped.

"I'll be back in a minute."

"This time I won't miss it."

She ran toward the platform.

Valindra smiled proudly as she reached the platform.

"See? We made it."

She turned toward Methon with a playful grin.

"I told you we would catch the train."

The arrival announcement echoed through the station.

The train slowly rolled onto the platform.

"There it is!" Valindra exclaimed happily.

She hurried toward the coach, but suddenly noticed an elderly woman struggling with two heavy bags. One of the bags slipped from her hands, scattering clothes, fruits, and medicines across the platform.

Without thinking twice, Valindra rushed toward her.

"Oh no! Let me help you."

She knelt on the floor, carefully collecting every item and placing them back into the old woman's bag.

"Thank you, my child," the woman said with grateful eyes.

Valindra smiled warmly.

"It's alright, Grandma."

She picked up the last packet, handed it to the old woman, and quickly turned around.

At that exact moment...

A long whistle pierced the night.

Her smile faded.

"No..."

She sprinted toward the moving train.

"Wait! Please... wait!"

She ran with all her strength, but the train had already begun to leave the platform.

Within seconds...

It disappeared into the darkness.

Valindra stopped running.

She stood there, breathing heavily, watching the empty railway tracks with disbelief.

She had missed her train...

For the second time.