Creepers

Tonight I have a brief story to tell about a somewhat creepy encounter. Here goes:

After Japanese class, I needed to buy some groceries, so I rode over to Sunny Mart. I had an entertaining moment when I ran into some people who spoke English. There was a man who was tall and blond, and a Japanese woman who I assume was his wife. The guy told me that his wife had pointed me out and said, "Look, there's a white girl!" I have to admit, I had kind of been trying not to stare at them myself, so it made me laugh.

I bought some groceries and rode my bike back home. As I was riding up to the apartment building, I noticed someone walking around outside. I parked my bike and gathered up my purse and grocery bag. As I went into the tiny lobby of the apartment building, the guy followed me inside and said, "Kawaii, ne" ("You're cute, aren't you"). He looked youngish, possibly my age. First of all, I was confused as to why he was calling me cute since he had until that point only seen me outside, in the dark, wearing a helmet. But mostly I was kind of creeped out. I don't know if there was really anything weird about this guy, but it might've disturbed me that he started the conversation the same way the breast-ogling guy did. In fact, I was half worried that it was the same person. I don't really remember what the first guy looked like. Was it possible that he had figured out what building I lived in?

Since I was incredibly uncomfortable at this point, I muttered "Sumimasen" ("I'm sorry/Excuse me") and got into the elevator. Thankfully, he didn't try to get in with me. I pressed the "close door" button a few times and selected several floors in case he was watching to see which level I lived on. Honestly, he may have just been waiting for a friend, but I was sort of concerned that he might follow me. I got into my apartment and locked the door.

Since then I've been chatting with various friends on Facebook about it, and while they laughed about the story, one or two of them also hinted that maybe I should've tried talking to the guy. I don't know. Maybe I am unnecessarily skittish. I'd be curious to find out from a Japanese friend if "Kawaii, ne" is a normal pick-up line. Is that actually a valid way to start a conversation? To me it just seems creepy. I hate to think that maybe I've been snubbing completely normal people, especially considering how much I complain about the fact that Japanese men never talk to me. But for now all I have to go on is instinct, and this guy just unnerved me.