This is a real and factual event that happened to me on 27 May, 2008 at 6.30 pm. I urge all you guys to take care of yourself and be careful while talking to a stranger, even he asked for your help and looked to be in a real trouble.
I was walking along the street in the Bishan area when suddenly a stranger came to me. He was around 30s, taller than me and clumsy. He asked for my help to get him to Bishan MRT. He claimed that he had lost his wallet in Yishun thus he had to go there. To appeal my sympathy, he added that he is a Malaysian who had just had his teeth cured and he has no relativs and friends in Singapore. I thought there would be nothing worthy only to help him to buy a MRT ticket to Yishun, but the real problem started here. He wanted to eat first before he took the MRT and again, he asked for my assistance (in other words, urge me to lend him money; he promised he would pay back, somehow...).
For information, the way to MRT station is to my right. It would be logical to buy some meals in Junction 8, which is where the MRT is located. So, if this guy's intention is true, he would ask to go to my right, wouldn't he?
He didn't. He wanted me to go to my left; he said that he had a diabetes and pain all over his legs but he asked to go away from the MRT station. Isn't it true to say that this is a sucidial act? How can a teenager like me be responsible if he suddenly collapsed while walking with me?
A blink came to my mind. This guy is a liar. I know the kind of robbers who would appeal your sympathy first before they stab you in the back when he and you are in the middle of nowhere (I mean, the road where nobody is around).
My doubt got bigger when he refused to be given a bottle of mineral water by me. He said he longed for a drink, but why did he reject when I offered him water? This is irrational and going to be wrong. I began to dodge him. He was smart enough to catch my avoidance attitude. He used the reverse psychology to confuse my conscience, "It's okay. If you don't want to help me, you can go."
I was hesitating for a moment. For an aeon, I cared for this guy. I was worried if this guy's situation was real. I would feel responsible and regretful if something bad happened to him later.
I repeated my question again. "Where do you want to go now?" He answered loudly, "MRT."
"Okay, I can buy food in Junction 8. There are plenty of choices there."
"But I want to go to the coffee shop there," he said while pointing to the direction away from J8.
"I don't see your point. Why do you need to go far from MRT station whereas there are many coffeeshops there in Junction 8. It is where the MRT is."
"Okay. You don't want to help me, fine. You can go."
After his last sentence, I left him without any doubt. I was convinced that this guy is a wolf with a lamb coat. Though I may violate my own principals of morality, I should not endanger myself to the edge, right?
Therefore, dear readers of this blog, please do take care! Think logically and in a calm manner when somebody asks for yourhelp. If his/her points contradict each other, don't doubt to leave him/her away. Don't try to be a hero but you end up being zero!!!