The rain has been pouring nonstop since Friday, July 18. Sometimes it’s a drizzle, but most of the time it’s a storm.
Today, staying at home is safer. And while I’m at home, let me share bits of life stories that happened during the rainfall.
Something Related to the MCU
Today, I’m supposed to buy tickets for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the first entry of Phase Six in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But because of the heavy rainfall and safety in mind, I decided to stay home. I will wait for a few days, and I hope the weather improves for everyone soon.
Coincidentally, around this time last year, 2024, I bought tickets and treated my brothers and cousins to a glorious MCU movie viewing. But we had to reschedule the next day due to the heavy rainfall.
What’s the MCU movie? It’s Deadpool & Wolverine, a part of the MCU’s Phase Five.
Since watching Deadpool & Wolverine the first time, it has become one of my favorite movies of 2024. (Primarily because I’m a Deadpool fan, the entire film is ridiculously great, and, of course, I watched it with my loved ones. Plus, I paid for the tickets myself. That’s pretty special for me.) I love the movie so much that I have seen it in theaters seven more times, and then several more on Disney+.
And because I have seen great initial reviews of the new Fantastic Four movie on social media, I might end up watching it more than once in theaters, just like I did with Deadpool & Wolverine? I will see about that. I’m stoked for the Fantastic Four’s debut in the MCU!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, in Philippine theaters July 23, 2025. (But please go see it when the weather is better.)
Something Related to a Boy Band
On a night in 2010, I was working on a project with a friend named Rayn. She is one of the most cheerful friends I have ever met. But on that night, when the rain poured, she looked at the window, and I saw a facial expression I had never seen before from her: sad.
Dewey: “Are you all right?”
Rayn: “Yeah, it’s just…”
Dewey: “What’s wrong?”
Rayn: “Whenever I see the rain, it reminds me of someone who left me.”
Dewey: “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
There was a few seconds of silence. And then I asked…
Dewey: “Would you like to talk about it?”
Rayn: “No, not really.”
Dewey: “All right.”
We both sighed, and we stopped working on the project. And then an idea came to mind—something that can probably cheer her up.
Dewey: “Rayn, are you familiar with the Backstreet Boys?”
Rayn: “Of course, I know them! What about them?”
Dewey: “They have a music video for their song ‘Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)’. Wanna see it?”
Rayn: “Haven’t seen that. Sure!”
I quickly typed “backstreet boys quit playing games” into the YouTube search bar, hit the Enter key, clicked the first video I saw, and then Rayn and I watched the entire music video. The video is basically the Backstreet Boys performing at a basketball court, but the more interesting part can be found at the song’s bridge—they were singing and dancing their hearts out while they got soaked in the rain, unfastened shirts and all.
At that moment, I found the cheerful Rayn again. She was laughing at the rain-drenched, pecs-and-abs-showing, dancing Backstreet Boys. The video was released in 1996, so she could not believe she had only seen the music video in 2010.
Mini mission accomplished. Good job, Dewey.
And after watching the music video:
Dewey: “I know you don’t want to talk about what happened. But the next time you see the rain and imagine someone who abandoned you, maybe you could also imagine the Backstreet Boys performing in the rain. Maybe that will cheer you up.”
Rayn: “Thank you, Dewey. I needed that.”
People need an umbrella or a friend to get through the rain. Sometimes, people need both.
That night in 2010, the rain outside reminded a good friend of mine about a bitter memory, and I did my best to shield her from that memory with an umbrella… in the form of a Backstreet Boys music video, of all things. And she laughed. I’m glad she laughed.
I know I’m not a good friend to some, but I’m trying to be better day by day. And cheering my friend up with the help of a Backstreet Boys music video is one of my most memorable and proudest moments as a friend.
Speaking of Rayn, I should send her a message. It’s been a long time since I talked to her, offline and online.
Something About a Third Story…
There is supposed to be a third story here, but I think I will save it for this Wednesday or Friday. It deserves a separate, special post.
And that concludes today’s post.
See you in the next post, and I hope the weather becomes better soon.
Ω
Header image: Aleksandar Pasaric of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.
Updated on July 22, 2025, September 12, 2025, and October 24, 2025.
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