It was half past six. In theory, the night is still young. But the encroaching darkness suggests otherwise. I should have left the lab an hour ago. But the Rain stubbornly held me captive, resisting any escape into the night. The air was saturated with a shivering cold as I navigated the drenched streets, cocooned in my winter jacket (which was rather inappropriate for the job), hands buried deep in my pockets. Amidst the downpour, the night exuded a calm reassurance with the subtle caress of the cold breeze in the background. The streets adorned with yellow and brown leaves, kissed by raindrops, bore witness to the waning autumn days. Such a beautiful sight I would say, except for the rain threatening to fill up my shoes. As the rain played its melodic percussion on the streets backdropped with dazzling lights from occasional cars passing, I remained oblivious. I could hear the faint noise of my own footsteps interspersed with the drowning opm tunes, as my earphones were pressed against my ears. At one point, Raining in Manila was aptly playing in my ears. Fate indeed always finds a way to make us feel.

Eventually, Hunger has forced me to pause. I found myself ending up in a lonely Chinese restaurant bathed in dim, enveloped in deafening silence. Normally, I detest rainy nights like these when hunger compels surrender to dingy places. However, this time was different; it led me to a surprisingly satisfying meal, actually my first proper Antwerp dining experience.

So despite my constant distaste of the rain, there is an inexplicable fondness that lingers within. It forces us to feel, unexpectedly brings us to comfort places, just like this night right here. And it’s undeniably a good feeling.