The Disparate One

Chapter 26 - Memo

Ray was in his room waiting for a few hours, he was sitting in front of the desk, staring out of the window when he heard a knock on the door. He got off the chair and went to answer the door, he slightly opened it, only revealing his head. Oxford was standing on the other side of the door.

"My family wants to have a conversation with you.", said Oxford to Ray when he saw his head.

"Do you want me to talk to them?", questioned Ray as he opened the door completely.

"Of course.", answered Oxford.

Ray walked out of his room, closed the door behind him, and followed the man to the living room where his family is, sitting on the sofa. Oxford sat next to his wife while Ray remained standing, but was leaning against the side of the fireplace facing the family since there isn't a space left on the couch.

"So, when did you two meet?", questioned the mother all of sudden.

Ray glanced at Oxford who was also glancing at him then to his wife, answering her question.

"Two months ago."

"I see... how did you two meet?", questioned the daughter.

"He is the one who replaced Vertec.", answered the father.

"Oh I see, where is he now?", Zinnia looked at Oxford.

"He's still working in the company.", replied Oxford.

"How old are you, sorry to ask, but you look too young to have a difficult job.", Oxford's wife turned her head to face Ray.

"We both have the same age.", Ray quickly answered while making quick glances to Oxford who just raised an eyebrow at him but then disappeared when his family looked at him surprised.

"No wonder you two are friends. Do you have a family?", Azalea questioned Ray.

"Not yet.", said Ray to the girl.

When the four noticed that they were talking for hours now, they started to feel hungry, so Oxford insisted Ray to call Domino's Pizza to order for their lunch. It only took them half an hour for their lunch to arrive at the door. Oxford and Ray were the two who received the delivery and placed it on the table.

"Honey, have you told Ray?", the mother stood next to her husband after retrieving her meal from the table.

"No, now is not the right time for him to be informed, he is just new to the company.", replied Oxford while he was staring at Ray who was opening the pizza boxes.

"Well just don't forget to tell him before it's too late.", said his wife before walking away to take a seat on the table, next to their daughter.

All four of them sat down and started to eat their lunch. Ray kept looking down at the food, avoiding eye contact with the three of them, especially Oxford who he still thinks that he is angry at him. The penthouse was quiet when they were eating for a moment until the mother spoke.

"Funny, you don't look like you're 46 years old, you look more like a sixteen-year-old."

Oxford and Ray stared at the mother who was eating her pizza after she talked.

"That is because, ma'am, my race is different.", said Ray which made Oxford to stare at him.

"Really, what race are you?", questioned Zinnia.

"Uhm..."

"He's a Filipino.", Oxford interrupted, saving Ray from the question.

"Oh, I see... you're good at speaking English, I tell you that.", said the mother before taking a bite of her pepperoni pizza.

The daughter was quietly listening to their conversation while she ate her chicken wings, then she remembered something.

"Dad.", she got Oxford's attention.

"I and Mom are planning to go to France next week, would you like to come? The trip would be better if you two joined us, maybe we can get to know more about each other.", said Azalea.

Ray coughed when he heard what she just said.

"We would really like to but, we still have work to do, maybe Zinnia can re-schedule it?", questioned Oxford.

"I don't know about it honey....", said her wife.

"You promised that you are going to quit your job next week.", the daughter reminded the topic that she and her parents talked about months ago.

"Azalea...", Oxford stared at her daughter, giving her the look which means that she shouldn't have brought that topic up on the table.

"Oh boy.", murmured the mother as she was finishing her meal before standing up and placing the plate in the sink.

"Oxford I think you have forgotten the memo.", said Ray to Oxford before standing up and went to the sink.

"What memo?", questioned Oxford to the man who came back from the sink.

"That we don't have work to do next week?", Ray replied as he tilted his head to his right.

"Excuse me for a second.", Oxford said before standing up. "What memo?", Oxford then grabbed Ray's right arm and gently pulled him to the hallway, away from his daughter and wife's view.

"Are you going to abandon me?", Ray let out a question out of nowhere.

"What?", Oxford was confused.

"I heard that you are quitting your job, so are you leaving me?", Ray asked calmly.

"That's just a joke, she always says that.", answered the man standing in front of him.

"I see...", said Ray as he leaned against the wall.

"What memo are you talking about?", questioned Oxford to Ray after he peaked his head out to the living room just to check.

"Oxford, your family is more important than your job. Don't be an...", Ray shut his mouth.

"A what?", Oxford stared at him.

"An idiot.", said Ray in a low tone.

Oxford looked at the man seriously that made Ray to regret saying it. They started to hear footsteps coming towards them, Oxford peaked his head and found that Zinnia is walking towards them, so he told Ray to act natural like they're having a normal talk.

"So... are you two going to join us?", the mother stood on the side between them.

"Yes.", Ray quickly answered.