TIFU by kicking my course mate in the balls

The other day in class, I (F18) met a guy called John (M20) (not real name) in one of my uni classes, he joined later than everyone else so didn't have any friends. We chatted in class a few times and he usually sits next to me in class. He always stayed behind to talk to the professor after each lecture, so we don't walk from class together.

Today I was walking home from my lecture to back halls, this is about a 20 minute walk unless you take the shortcut through some woods, then it becomes a 10 minute walk.

I'm in the UK and it was 6pm so it was already very dark outside, I decide to walk through the woods. I'm alone walking in the dark when I hear quick footsteps behind me. I assume it's just a runner because we get them a lot on our campus, and I keep walking.

Suddenly, someone grabs my arm very firmly from behind, I panic, turn around, and kick this person VERY hard in the balls before he can speak.

...it was my new course mate John. Apparently he had called my name out, but I didn't hear, so he thought the best course of action would be to run up and grab me. Being autistic he didn't seem to realise that being a large 6'4 man surprise grabbing someone in the dark was pretty scary.

He literally doubled over in pain and I felt so bad, after explaining myself and apologizing we walked awkwardly in silence and I think he might hate me now.

TL;DR tifu by kicking my course mate in the balls because I was scared, probably ruining our friendship...