Not Strangers

"Take off your top!"

"What? Do I really have to take off my clothes? All of them?"

"Just the top!"

"Can't I... keep it on?"

"No, you can't!"

"This feels a bit awkward, given the circumstances."

I bit my lip, whispering as I tried to negotiate with the handsome doctor in front of me, hoping to avoid undressing.

The young, attractive doctor sat upright in his chair, hands clasped on the desk, just like a prince, exuding an air of old-world charm and aloofness.

It was just the two of us in the room, and his expressionless gaze made me feel uneasy.

"Miss, this is the breast surgery department. I need to perform an ultrasound. I'm unable to identify the affected part of your body at a glance without an X-ray."

His voice was chillingly cold, freezing the room with his words.

Feeling wronged, I lowered my head. My eyes were slightly red as I grumbled internally about why such a gentleman had to speak so harshly.

Couldn't he be more considerate? It wasn't easy for anyone to undress in front of the opposite sex for the first time. Some mental preparation was necessary!

Besides, how often did you find a breast surgeon who was a man around my age? Even though doctors were supposed to be professional, it still felt awkward and embarrassing.

Seeing that I hadn't moved, the gentlemanly doctor turned to his computer and said. "You can come back tomorrow. A female doctor will be available to see you."

My internship company had recently taken on a big project, and as an intern, I was forced to work overtime every day. I hadn't had a good night's sleep in ages. And I didn't have the time to come to see the doctor one more time.