Emergency Romance – ER 4

"Hey, Keith, what are you doing tomorrow for Valentine?" asked a fellow medic.

Keith paused for a moment. "Nothing I guess. Why, you want to date me is it?"

"Sorry man, you are not my type. Erm …... But I thought you are seeing that cute doc from the A & E department?"

"We are just normal friends. Valentine is for lovers not for casual friends like us."

"Lovers also start as normal friends. Invite her out for candle-light dinner then become lovers. Don’t tell me you intend to remain as normal friends forever?"

Keith kept silent. He didn't know how to respond. He wasn't even sure if Susie considered him a friend in the first place. He said that it would be impossible for them to reach the 'lovers' stage. She was a doctor while he was only a paramedic or a male nurse. She had a medical degree, he only had a diploma. She had ............ The list went on and the more he thought of it the more inferior he became. In fact, he was so worried that Susie wouldn’t go out on single date with him that he got his better educated friends to accompany him on his outings with her.

"Come on, Keith. You are being too humble. You are not that bad a medical worker yourself. Anyway isn't it common for a doctor to date a nurse? Just that in your case the roles are reversed. Both of you are the perfect pair and you should have more faith in yourself and in the relationship."

Keith wouldn't deny that he was attracted to Susie, not so much by her appearance but more by her devotion to her work. He admired her determination to save every life possible, the very same belief that he shared – the belief that every human life was precious.

Encouraged by his friend, Keith decided to ask Susie out for their first single date. His heart was thumping so fast as he dialled her number that he was mumbling his words when Susie answered his call. Thinking that it was a nuisance call, Susie was about to hang up when Keith found his voice and told her of his intention. Fearing that she could have heard him wrongly, Susie asked him to repeat what he had said. Keith hesitated. He wasn't comfortable making the request again.

"Erm …… Actually it's nothing important. It's ok if you didn't hear me."

"No, no. I heard you. I just want to confirm what I heard is what you actually said."

Keith assured her that she had heard him correctly and went on to say that she needn't oblige if she wasn't free. Now it was Susie's turn to hesitate. Though she had longed for this day to arrive, she didn't want to sound as if she had been waiting for his invitation.

"I think I should be free," Susie answered as calmly as she could while containing her excitement.

They agreed on the time and venue to meet before hanging up. Both had a sleepless night that night and were anxious as to how their first single date would turn out. In fact, they didn't know what to expect. It would be their first 'serious' outing with a member of the opposite sex in years. Both had their fair share of 'puppy' love during their schooling years but had been too busy saving others' life since embarking on their respective career to take care of their own personal life.