The Disparate One

Chapter 44 - Start

"So you really love him?", Oxford questioned her daughter and she nodded back at him.

"He is... 24 years old.", announced the father to her daughter, thinking that he would get away from the situation and he did.

"I knew it.", replied Azalea.

"What made you like him?", Oxford continued to gather more information.

"Well, first is his white eyes... why are they white though? I have never seen anything like it before.", said Azalea with a different tone.

"Well don't ask me, ask him instead.", said the father who slightly shook his head gently.

"Well maybe I will and invited him to the prom1", said Azalea when she stood up and also her father stood up fast.

"I need to talk to him first.", Oxford told her daughter when he started to walk out of the room to go to the other cabin where Ray and Fier are.

Azalea followed her father from behind. When Oxford was about to walk in, the girl rushed in quickly, calling Ray in the process. Oxford's eyes grew and tried to grab her by the arm but he was too late. Ray and Fier were talking when Azalea stood in the doorway, and Oxford stood behind her, looking at Ray. Ray moved away from the bed and gently moved closer to the girl who just called him.

"Can I talk with you for a second?", Azalea questioned Ray with a smile.

Ray nodded at the girl after a few seconds and in that few seconds, Ray stared at Oxford who was still looking back at him, with a serious look. Azalea continued to smile even when he walked out of the cabin after she glanced at her father who is standing in the living room. When Ray walked out of the bedroom, Oxford stopped him by placing his right hand on to Ray's left shoulder. Ray turned his head to the man slowly and looked directly into his eyes.

"Better not do something stupid.", Oxford warned the man who nodded back at him right after.

Ray left the cabin and immediately found Azalea standing and waiting for him in the hallway. Oxford turned his head to Fier who he found sitting on the bed and both of Fier's hands are resting on his lap and also looking back at him.

"Is there something wrong?", Fier questioned when he tilted his head slightly to his right.

Ray and Azalea went to the aft of the cruise ship to get some fresh air. They were leaning on the railings, watching the waves flat in just a few minutes due to the ship's propellers. Ray was just a few inches away from the Azalea. He also has this feeling that they are being watched by Oxford from somewhere, he didn't even try to look around, just in case that he is correct about it.

"You lied. My dad told me that you're 24.", Azalea spoke as her hair moves slowly with the wind.

Ray did a squint to the girl unnoticeably.

"I'm sorry.", said Ray with a gentle voice and also with a quick glance at her.

"I forgive you.", replied Azalea when she looked at the person next to her. "I've never met anyone like you before.", she added.

Ray didn't do anything as a response, he just kept looking out at the ocean.

"Especially with that eyes.", Ray heard Azalea.

"I'm an orphan.", Ray started to talk.

"Oh.", commented the girl.

They went silent for a moment until Azalea asked Ray if he can be her prom date. Ray's eyes grew bigger when he heard that question. He didn't look at her when he was thinking what he should answer. He continued to think even when Azalea told him that he can improvise, besides Ray's height is almost the same as hers.

"Never mind.", said Azalea with a tone when she looked away from him. "I don't even know how to dance.", she added.

"I can teach you.", Ray said to the girl with a small smile for a few seconds, but slightly faded when he found Oxford watching them in the distance, he is right that they are being watched.

Azalea looked back at Ray fast and then slowly let out a smile at him.

"You will?", questioned the girl and Ray nodded at her. "Thank you.", added Azalea before turning her head away.

"I didn't expect that I'd find you two here.", Zinnia walked up to them out of nowhere with a smile on her face.

"Lunch?", questioned Ray.

"Yes.", answered the mother.

Oxford walked away when he noticed that the three has left the area. He was in the corridor, walking back to the Fier's cabin when he started to hear Zinnia's voice echoing on the other end of the hallway, so he speed walked to the cabin. He found Fier reading a book on the sofa and decided to join him, acting like nothing has happened. Fier did a lance at the man when Oxford sat on the sofa next to him.

"Please don't act like you did nothing.", said the robot.

The two heard the door opened and Ray, Zinnia, and Azalea walked in while having a conversation. Zinnia stopped when she found Fier and Oxford on the sofa and also telling them that lunch is being served. The two stood up, Oxford was the first one and Fier was still reading the book when he joined the group. The five walked out of the cabin and headed to a restaurant next to where Ray, Fier, and Oxford ate seafood. Oxford sat in the middle, next to his daughter and his wife, while Ray and Fier sat on the other side of the table. The group was silent when they were looking down at the menus that are handed to them by the waiter. Fier slid a small paper to Ray's menu without being caught by the other three. Ray returned the paper back to the person next to him, and after a few seconds, Fier let out a sigh when he put down the menu and called a waiter.