Looking back on the situation I would have gotten off the bus

Looking back on the situation I would have gotten off the bus, or I would have gone and sat next to the driver for my safety.

I had just caught the bus in Otrobanda to go home after school. When the bus reached Weg naar Welgelegen, a group of five or six boys entered. Even though the bus was empty they chose the seats near me. The one sitting next to me started tapping me on the shoulder. I was listening to music in my earpiece and I didn’t react.

Suggestive

He was telling his friends I was beautiful and he wanted my number. Suddenly the guy started touching my cell phone which was in my lap. He kept stroking my phone. I was paralyzed. The movement was suggestive. One of his friends told him to stop, but he didn’t. He wanted to put his number in my cell phone. The others just kept looking and laughing. I felt uncomfortable. Aggressive thoughts entered my head. At the same time I was afraid. What could I do against all of them if something happened?

Intervene

The bus driver did not intervene. The boys asked the driver to drop me off first, so they would know where I lived so they could visit me at home. Thank God the bus driver followed his route. When they got off, one by one they said goodbye, kept looking me in the face when they gave the driver money and called me sweetheart. It’s nothing new that boys make a pass at me, but this incident made me feel insecure.

Don’t worry

When they all got off the driver had the nerve to comment ‘typical  boys’ behavior. You don’t have to worry about this.’ I never got on that bus again. I didn’t feel safe.

I still feel uneasy when I see the boy. I think if a woman had been driving the bus, she would have acted differently. I’m sure she would have scolded the boys or let me sit in front. Looking back on the situation I would have gotten off the bus, or I would have gone and sat next to the driver for my safety. That day the only thing on my mind was ‘I want to go home right away’. My legs were so heavy.