I don't know if this will count. Last June, I was stalked by a man in his mid 20s in a convenience store near my college while I was waiting for my exam.
It happened at 7 am in a quiet Thursday. Because I got to my private college early after taking the 6 am shuttle service, I decided to spend my hours reviewing for my exam. I haven't live in the dormitories that time, instead I take the official shuttle service or ask my dad to drive me there. Back to the story, after buying coffee, I went back to my table when a guy asked to sit at the chair opposite from mine. I agreed at first, thinking he was an older student, but I just made a huge mistake.
I thought he was there because the tables were taken, but when I looked around, they are mostly vacant. I ignored him and continued studying while listening to my music at full volume.
When he asked for my major, I told him I was from the com-arts in a polite manner.
He said it suited me because of my looks. Should I be flattered? No. I was quite offended,but mostly crept out, once I noticed he kept smiling and staring at me for a whole hour.
Suddenly, he asked me to give him my phone number and be friends on facebook. I rejected. Why would I for a stranger? I lied saying I don't use facebook and that I was only borrowing my dad's phone.
The guy never quit. He kept pestering me about how we should meet again, while glaring at me.
I wanted to scream. The guards and the staff never bothered approaching me. Until a friend of mine who entered the store saw the guy's action and attempted to intervene. He distracted me while keeping myself away from the stranger, who left his bag at my table.
While the creep left, my friend asked me how I was feeling.
I told him I was panicking. He was quite mad, saying I should have left immediately. He got a point, but I was too terrified to react but act natural. He instead helped me get out of the store once he saw the creep entered the store.
He escorted me inside the school area where strangers are not allowed. We may not talked much in class, but he was kind enough to help me. He gave me his phone number in case it happened. When we entered the cafeteria, I saw my friends who went up to me after receiving my message. I told them what happened.
Because of my trauma, I lost focus and almost failed my exams.
Unfortunately, it did not stop there.
Thinking the incident was over, I was wrong.
Same day, afternoon. I was with my friends for lunch in the convenience store. While we were waiting, one of my friends noticed a guy staring at us. I turned and my blood went cold.
I whispered to my friends that it was the same guy who violated me. They thought I was paranoid, saying I might be 'harsh' over a random guy. I was hurt, but my friends observed that the guy kept staring at my back for straight 10 minutes. They came up with a plan, pretending to take a selfie when they were actually taking photo of the guy as proof.
The guy left, staring at me as he went. I felt nauseous that day.
I ended up avoiding the place for a week. I thought it will end. Sadly no. Even on my way to class, I saw him by the streets, glaring and smiling at me.
I reported the incident to the security office. I showed the photo my friend captured to the head security. After reporting to the security compound, he requested me to meet up with the guards to discuss the matter with them. As I entered the next office, I was victim blamed by some of the guards. 'Why didn't you let the staff know?' 'You should have left.'
How should I know! I was terrified having a pair of eyes glued on my moves as I stepped outside the streets.
Instead I ignored and act polite for the sake of the matter.
With the trauma lingering in me, I barely stay at a convenience store for more than a minute unaccompanied. I became wary of my surroundings as I go outside since then.
Seven months past, I thought I was free. Guess again.
While doing my methodology, I received an unknown friend request followed by a message. I never accepted it but I checked the message, where I ended up throwing my phone. It was the stalker who violated my simple freedom.
He messaged me saying that he haven't seen me in seven months, mentioning he looked through all the accounts on my college's location. What scared me the most is that he would be waiting for me at the area where we 'met'. I screenshot the message as evidence then blocked him.
Recently, I was paying for my installments with my dad. On our way to the car, he noticed a man staring at me and taunted him to get off. It was the same guy I reported to the security. The trauma went back.
I should have said no last year.
It happened at 7 am in a quiet Thursday. Because I got to my private college early after taking the 6 am shuttle service, I decided to spend my hours reviewing for my exam. I haven't live in the dormitories that time, instead I take the official shuttle service or ask my dad to drive me there. Back to the story, after buying coffee, I went back to my table when a guy asked to sit at the chair opposite from mine. I agreed at first, thinking he was an older student, but I just made a huge mistake.
I thought he was there because the tables were taken, but when I looked around, they are mostly vacant. I ignored him and continued studying while listening to my music at full volume.
When he asked for my major, I told him I was from the com-arts in a polite manner.
He said it suited me because of my looks. Should I be flattered? No. I was quite offended,but mostly crept out, once I noticed he kept smiling and staring at me for a whole hour.
Suddenly, he asked me to give him my phone number and be friends on facebook. I rejected. Why would I for a stranger? I lied saying I don't use facebook and that I was only borrowing my dad's phone.
The guy never quit. He kept pestering me about how we should meet again, while glaring at me.
I wanted to scream. The guards and the staff never bothered approaching me. Until a friend of mine who entered the store saw the guy's action and attempted to intervene. He distracted me while keeping myself away from the stranger, who left his bag at my table.
While the creep left, my friend asked me how I was feeling.
I told him I was panicking. He was quite mad, saying I should have left immediately. He got a point, but I was too terrified to react but act natural. He instead helped me get out of the store once he saw the creep entered the store.
He escorted me inside the school area where strangers are not allowed. We may not talked much in class, but he was kind enough to help me. He gave me his phone number in case it happened. When we entered the cafeteria, I saw my friends who went up to me after receiving my message. I told them what happened.
Because of my trauma, I lost focus and almost failed my exams.
Unfortunately, it did not stop there.
Thinking the incident was over, I was wrong.
Same day, afternoon. I was with my friends for lunch in the convenience store. While we were waiting, one of my friends noticed a guy staring at us. I turned and my blood went cold.
I whispered to my friends that it was the same guy who violated me. They thought I was paranoid, saying I might be 'harsh' over a random guy. I was hurt, but my friends observed that the guy kept staring at my back for straight 10 minutes. They came up with a plan, pretending to take a selfie when they were actually taking photo of the guy as proof.
The guy left, staring at me as he went. I felt nauseous that day.
I ended up avoiding the place for a week. I thought it will end. Sadly no. Even on my way to class, I saw him by the streets, glaring and smiling at me.
I reported the incident to the security office. I showed the photo my friend captured to the head security. After reporting to the security compound, he requested me to meet up with the guards to discuss the matter with them. As I entered the next office, I was victim blamed by some of the guards. 'Why didn't you let the staff know?' 'You should have left.'
How should I know! I was terrified having a pair of eyes glued on my moves as I stepped outside the streets.
Instead I ignored and act polite for the sake of the matter.
With the trauma lingering in me, I barely stay at a convenience store for more than a minute unaccompanied. I became wary of my surroundings as I go outside since then.
Seven months past, I thought I was free. Guess again.
While doing my methodology, I received an unknown friend request followed by a message. I never accepted it but I checked the message, where I ended up throwing my phone. It was the stalker who violated my simple freedom.
He messaged me saying that he haven't seen me in seven months, mentioning he looked through all the accounts on my college's location. What scared me the most is that he would be waiting for me at the area where we 'met'. I screenshot the message as evidence then blocked him.
Recently, I was paying for my installments with my dad. On our way to the car, he noticed a man staring at me and taunted him to get off. It was the same guy I reported to the security. The trauma went back.
I should have said no last year.
So glad you have support from friends and family too.