CLOSE CALL

Imagine trodding along the sidewalk, bag safely tucked in your right arm. Your destination: the 24-hour Ministop a few houses away. Then an unfamiliar, forest green car pulls over on the other side of the road. The window rolls down and reveals a chinky-eyed, middle-aged man calling, "Miss! Miss!"

Of course, curious about this man's motives and despite the fact that this man was a complete stranger to you, you halt and turn around politely. Thinking the man needed directions, you answer. "Yes?"

You see his hand faced up towards the sky, reaching for you. Four extended fingers folds inward; he repeats the gesture over and over as if telling you to come near. Confused, you ask again.

"Yes, what do you want?"

A band of white light reflects from his glasses, moving the way you see in stainless housewares.

"Where are you going?" he grins.

You instantly become suspicious. What was this man's motive? And if he was indeed planning something evil, what kind of tactless question was that?

"Why?" you ask, throwing him a confused look in hopes of leading him on.

If this man was the kind you thought he was, it won't hurt to gather information. You remember from your stored knowledge acquired from crime documentaries that to prevent this man from doing any harm from others, this was the next best thing to do (walking away being the best option) in order to aid investigators.

He says something, but you can't hear.

"What? I can't hear you," you repeat.

You bring up a free hand to shield your eyes from the sun in order to get a better look at the man. You focus on his face, memorizing every detail. Whoever this stranger was, you start thinking that he victimized the wrong girl. You happen to be one of those people who have a better photographic memory when it comes to faces.

Tanned skin, chinky-eyed, looked to be around his thirties, and wearing a royal blue long-sleeved polo. Half his arm slung lazily through the window, this time coiling his hand to point at the passenger seat.

"I'll take you there. Wherever you're going," he insists.

Your heart stops. Your mind races. Who would be insane enough to offer a lady, who was wearing her house slippers to boot, a ride in broad daylight without being mistaken for a hoodlum? Why would this stranger suddenly offer a ride to another stranger out of nowhere? And more importantly, why would he offer you a ride, of all people, when he could've offered rides to others walking along the sidewalk? Are you a target of his malicious intent, or are you just thinking too much? Despite the possibility that this seemingly perverted gentleman simply felt altruistic, the situation appears more like an open invitation to being a victim of kidnap, rape, or even murder.


If you were this woman, what would YOU do?

Something smells fishy, and whoever he was, I'm not fooled by his glossy scales.

I was in this exact situation weeks ago, before I started my practicum in Ortigas Center. As soon as the car roared away, I took out a pen and paper which I usually keep inside my bag being saved for such cases (or perhaps, other purposes). I wrote down the license plate (UUE-604), the time it took place, where the encounter took place, and all other necessary information. Later that afternoon, I directly approached our barangay chairman and requested for a blather. I guess all those years I've indulged in crime and survival documentaries paid off.

Some may think I am such a nasty woman to turn down such a sweet "gentleman", but hey, it's better to be safe than sorry. You'll never know what you'll get from sweet talkers. Sometimes, it's just a form of seduction to lure you into their dangerous grasp.

Being brought up in a family who taught me well enough to stay away from strangers who I believe are up to no good and living under a government where I don't trust the officials (most especially the Head of the Department of Justice) proved to be very useful for me, so I'm sticking to protecting myself from any possible harm.

So girls, be careful. No matter how well-armed you are or how untouchable you think you are, these things are not meant be ignored. You will always be female (unless you went through sex change) and thus, susceptible to crimes used to lure females into submission.

I don't even want to think about the outcome if I accepted his offer. Never have, never will.