Untold Untruths

The most frightening thing happened just now. Tian An and I decided to go to a different kopitiam (other than the one I always order fried mee at) for some diversity. We went only a block or two away; it wasn't very far.

We placed our orders and just when I'd gotten my apple juice, this guy (no, this man) sitting at the table next to me suddenly grabbed my arm. He wanted to know what school I was from. He had a broad face and a decidedly harmless look. He wasn't good looking at all. He had wore this Bhuddist-like bead bracelet on his wrist. He sat with an older man, but whether he was a relation or not I couldn't tell. The older man didn't seem to notice what he was doing. I told him and turned back to my juice.

He grabbed my arm again. This time he wanted to know whether Tian An was my brother or my friend. I told him Tian An was a friend. By this time it was quite apparent that this man was... weird. Freaky. Perhaps a little abnormal. It was the way he grabbed my arm, asked such questions; the way he kept ...staring.

Then he wanted to know whether school had just ended. And without waiting for an answer he told me he could fetch me home. He could drive now. Would you like me to drive you home? All this came out in a tumble of words, like he couldn't get them out of his mouth quickly enough. Horrified, I uttered a stifled "no".

Tian An wanted to know what the man was saying. "He wants to drive me home." I said shakily. Then I shoved my plate and juice over to Tian An's side of the table. In the next few moments, I sat there, spooning chicken rice into my mouth, heart thumping with terror. I don't really know why I was so frightened, except for the undeniable fact that that man was there. Staring. Turning around all the time, and staring. Staring. And asking questions.

One of the kopitiam ladykeepers asked, did I know him? I shook my head; very pleadingly, I think.

"Is this a first time?" Tian An asked.

"Yes" I was feeling very uneasy in my own skin. Chicken rice didn't feel right in my mouth anymore.

"Tian An, I'm so scared. He's so freaky." If he turned around one more time, one more time, I might've died of horror.

Suddenly, one of the kopitiam's ladykeepers came up from behind. She quickly ushered us to a different table just behind a corner, out of sight from the man. She said some things about the man, about how he wasn't right in the head and don't worry he can't do anything to you here.

In one unanimous moment, it seemed that all the kopitiam keepers knew what was going on. The chicken rice man even came up to me and told me not to worry. I think everyone came up to me at least once to tell me not to worry. It felt like I was being protected with their eyes or something. They kept watching over us. I felt very shaken-up throughout the whole meal.

A little while later, they told me he'd gone away. After we'd finished our food, we went to thank them. They all told me to be careful, and that he couldn't have actually done anything to me, not there anyway. The chicken rice man told me he'd noticed the man from the start. He hadn't seem right to him, he said. He told me that I should get one of those pepper-sprays; they were really effective and girls these days had to be more careful.

I am so thankful for them, even though I couldn't understand very much of their Cantonese. And for Tian An. He kept reminding me that there was nothing to fear but God.
I think the worst emotion in all the world must be fear. I used to think it was jealousy because it felt so poisonous. Now though, having gone through the scariest moment of my teens, I think differently.

And now. Now that I am much calmer, there's still something I learnt from Tian An that I have to do.

I thank you, God, for letting that happen.