“Let me go get freshened up, then we can start work ok? Make yourself comfortable.” Haifah smiled, heading to the bathroom.
Tim headed for the double bed, first sitting, then laying. He immediately noticed the diagrams pinned to the ceiling, and smiled.
“I like your diagrams” he joked to Haifah as she left the bathroom.
“Well, they said no pins in the walls, but didn’t say anything about pins in the ceiling!” She laughed, “nice to see you’re making yourself comfortable!”
“I’ll have you know I’ve had a terribly long journey getting here!” Tim joked.
“Long? Isn’t it like an hour?!” Haifah replied, sticking her tongue out.
She made her way to the bed, sitting beside Tim at his waist level, looking at him.
“Tim…” she started, for the first time looking a little nervous.
“Yes?” He replied, not sure what she was going to ask.
“I need to ask you something a little embarrassing…” she continued, blushing again.
“Embarrassing? More embarrassing than that time you got your head stuck in a coat hanger?” Tim smirked, trying to ease her embarrassment.
“Well, you see, as part of our clinical placement we have to do patient exams…” she started, speaking quite quickly.
“Right…” Tim questioned, waiting for more.
“Well, its just that as a Muslim girl I find it really embarrassing examining male patients. Females I’m fine with, its just I get really embarrassed when talking to male patients…” She added, “and I’ve known you like – forever? You’re the only guy I don’t really get embarrassed around!”
Tim smiled at her, “of course! As long as you’re not going to be cutting me up!”
“No that’s next year!” Haifah giggled.
“Well I’ll make sure not to volunteer to help you study next year then!” He smiled.
Haifah smiled, and laid beside him.
“You’re the best!” She smiled, turning towards him, hugging him.
Tim was a little taken aback – he couldn’t remember a time where Haifah had hugged him like that, and couldn’t help but think about how sexually tense the situation was. A few seconds later she let go, and got up to get her anatomy book from the desk. It was a large book, a good few hundred A4 sized pages. From the top protruded an array of different post-it notes.
“Orange ones are things I’d like to practice on you,” she smiled, “if that’s ok?”
“Sure, what have we got first?” He smiled back, she was obviously nervous.
“Well, the first section is patient history, and I always get nervous asking personal questions!” Haifah sighed.
“Don’t worry, YOU are the doctor, ask anything you need to know to help the patient!” He smiled.
“I know I know, its just certain questions that embarrass me…” She said, visibly flustered.
“Like what?” He smiled, looking into her eyes.
“Well ‘are you sexually active?’ is always the worst!” She sighed again.
“Well?” He replied.
“Well what?” She said, a little confused.
“Well, are you going to ask me?” He smiled.
“Erm… but…oh my god I’m so embarrassed…You’re… I must be embarrassing you too…” She said turning away, a tear in her eye.
“Haifah. Come on, I’m not embarrassed at all. If this is what you need to practice then lets go!” He smiled, leaning forward taking her hand in his.