You’re just TOO MUCH fool!
My bus stopped at Chinatown. Unlike usual, only a few boarded, including this young black man who once sat next to me.
That time, he boarded (at Chinatown again) and saw me stting in the front row. I thought I saw a hint of excitement in his eyes and felt uncomfortable. I looked away and ignored him, waiting for him to walk past me. Unfortunately, he stopped where I was and gave me a creepy smile. He asked if he could sit next to me. I thought maybe I was just unintentionally being racist or something to have a bad feeling about him, and since the bus was full, fine. Take a seat. Throughout my journey home, he only read his book quietly. I let out a sigh of relief when I got off at my stop and felt bad for how I judged him the moment I saw him.
Today he boarded I was uncomfortable again for some reason. The bus was pretty empty at 4pm. He did not sit with me. He sat next to the young asian girl behind me. He greeted her and talked. Maybe they knew one another. However after 5 minutes his conversation started to piss me off.
Him: CAN…YOU…SPEAK…ENGLISH…WITH…PEOPLE…FOR…30…MINUTES?
Her: (soft answer…)
Him: CAN…YOU…SPEAK…ENGLISH…WITH…PEOPLE…FOR…30…MINUTES?
Her: (soft answer) I can speak english.
Him: Blah blah blah blah blah….
.
.
.
Him: How old are you?
Her: 19
Him: Do you live with your parents?
Her: (soft answer about her family…)
Him: (More annoying questions)
.
.
.
And this is where I started to worry for the poor girl…
Him: Can I have you number?
Her: No
Him: WHY?
Her: I don’t give out my number.
Him: haha! Who asked you to do that? Your mother? Your father?
Her: My boyfriend.
(I laughed a bit thinking that was a nice answer from her, but I knew she was getting uncomfortable)
Him: HAHA!!!! BOYFRIEND!!! HAHAH!!!! What’s his name huh? What’s his name?
Her: (soft answer I can’t hear)
Then I comtemplated so hard on whether I should do something to protect her. So vulnerable and too kind to ask him to stop being rude. But I was afraid that this guy would get all “It’s not your business I can ask her whatever I want” and then proceed to track where I live and stuff like that. I was so afraid to tell him to leave her alone all because of my safety and face. And I am not confrontational. I dare not imagine what would happen if he started attacking me verbally on the bus in front of everyone.
My stop came up. I got up and got out without turning around to look at her so Iwouldn’t risk making eye contact with him, even though I really wanted to see her facial expression and make sure she was ok. I feel very helpless about the situation. I just hoped she managed to get rid of him and safely return home.
At home I thought about it and tried to come up with options to help her that would not threaten my own safety with this creep. Type a message on my phone in chinese and hold it high enough for her to know that she could get off the bus stop with me to catch another one in 15 minutes? But my australian phone didn’t have the chinese writing feature. And even if it did, what if she wasn’t chinese? Turn around and give him a fierce angry look to intimidate him? Turn around and ask her to sit with me? Tell the bus driver when I left to keep an eye on him?
Any advice? I feel so bad T_T How can we help other people when they are caught in such a situation?
After the incident I realized the gut feeling I had about him the first time was right. He really was creepy. Always follow what your conscience/gut feeling tells you. It’s there for a reason.
Funny video about getting a girl’s number but not so funny anymore in real life.
Lin said,
May 21, 2009 at 4:31 PM
hmm…I had weird bus incidents too. But what I’ve learnt in these 3 years (almost) is that always play along & you’ll b fine. in this case, personally i think the girl was being “too honest”. even if her bf did tell her not to give out her no., juz tell him that it’s juz that she doesn’t give out her no., nobody told her not to. i guess the guy got pissed when she said “bf” because he could’ve lost his face. obviously i wasn’t there so i can’t really tell but, (most) guys are egoistic.
well, mayb u could go “hey! aren’t u getting off the bus with me?” when u reach ur stop, & she might get ur message. or…i thought the idea about letting the bus driver know was a pretty good idea. at least u thought of ur own safety too cause u might not know if they could turn violent or anything. =S asking her to sit with u is not a very good idea though, cause he might still kacau her and also if u get off the bus first, then she’ll be left alone with the guy again.
jenmin1314 said,
May 21, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Yea you’re right. Next time just tell the driver to keep an eye. Dunno why the girl told him so much!
was gonna tell u here what happened to me the other day on the bus with weird people again. But I have now posted it as the next post.
Lin said,
May 21, 2009 at 6:16 PM
i guess she’s new =) dunno much about ppl here i guess.
lol. i see that both of us keep meeting weird ppl on buses.
Liz said,
May 22, 2009 at 12:51 AM
I think I would’ve also considered doing what Lin said about asking her if she was coming off the same stop as me. At the same time, it seems like you see this same guy pretty often on the bus. So he might see you next time and ask you about it or something. But anyway, I think I would’ve asked her to come with me. Then can walk her to your house or around the block or something so it won’t look like she’s waiting for the next bus. On the way, can get to know her or something, eventually preach the gospel, then get her saved! Lol. Serious though.