Elizabeth's POV
Sunday...
The whole day, I noticed a change in Meliodas' treatment towards me. He doesn't seem to be himself. The way he interacts is different than before. He smiles less and only answers in 'Yes' or 'Okay' and also nods. It twisted my heart in a painful tug. I don't like this side of him. Did I do anything wrong to upset him? I don't think I've said or done anything to deserve such a bittersome treatment.
Meliodas won't make eye contact with me for more than five minutes. He only looks for a moment to reply then goes back to doing what I asked him to do. The cold shoulder is irritating me. The atmosphere was silent and I didn't like it. Where did i go wrong with this plan? We had so much fun and we talked a lot. Maybe I'm missing something.
The sound of the glass breaking snapped me out of my thoughts. "Huh?" I turned around to see Meliodas immediately cleaning up the mess.
"Be careful with the glass shards...you'll get cut." I said while grabbing a rubber glove from the cabinet and slipped it on.
"Okay." He replied. I went to get a broom and dustpan. "Agh!" when i came back, Meliodas' finger was bleeding.
"What did i just told you?!" I took a look at his finger. There's a small cut on his middle finger. "Go wash it off. I'll handle the rest." He nodded before walking away leaving me to clean the shards.
After I was done, I aided Meliodas with the medical kit. We just sat there as I applied alcohol and a band aid on his finger.
"Thank you..." he said in a monotone voice.
"Okay...I've had enough of this. Spill...Whats gotten into you? You're acting weird today. You hardly interact with me. You lost focus. Heck, you got hurt. Meliodas, whats wrong with you?" I finally snapped. I will not play innocent and act as though everything is alright.
He stared up at me as I glared at him with my arms crossed. Surprisingly he held his gaze for a straight 2 minutes before turning away. I could see him play with his fingers and bit his lip.
"Hey, If I did anything wrong...just tell me other than ignoring me." I didn't like this kind of bullying. I heard him let out a big sigh.
"Y..You're right. I've been unfair to you...I don't have the right to get mad at it" he said. I didn't quite get what he was talking about.
"I don't get it."
"It's okay. You did nothing wrong really. I was angry about...something else." He confessed.
"And that would be?" I waited for him to reply.
"Meldy and Liz are coming over next week..."
The following week...
Who knew the ceiling would be so fun to look at? I laid in bed juststaring at the ceiling in deep thought. I felt sadness get to me. Liz is coming over any day this week. Am I ready for this? Am I ready to block all her attempts to win Meliodas' back? She's gonna be with her 24/7. They'll be living together in one roof. I can't help but get worried. She has all the time...all the privacy... all the resources needed to achieve that. Meldy is her advantage. Without her, she won't be anywhere near Meliodas.
I sighed then got up. Cain's words flooded my mind. Maybe I should tell Meliodas how I really feel now. But I'm scared. What if he doesn't feel the same way? Elaine and I's plan was to make him fall for me and then let him make the first move. Meliods is a great guy to be with. My small time with him opened up topics that I never knew. But judging by the way he acts with me, I don't think he's even interested in me. Maybe he is but...only as a friend?
I sighed again. If love found a way into this situation, please give me a sign. I'm hoping for a small miracle to happen.
The Next day...
"So we have to take a vote on budget cuts. That means one of you will have to be forced to take a vacation. It's how the policy works. I didn't invent it. Employee rights are written on the handbook. But lately, I've been getting reports about overworking you guys which is not true at all...So we need a plan." Merlin was currently relaying the current problem Goddessa Cafe was having.
I didn't have the care in the world at the moment. My mind was floating elsewhere. I kept a blank expression the whole meeting and before you know it, the meeting ended.
I went back to the kitchen to continue frosting the cupcakes when Elaine suddenly tackled me in a big tight hug. "Eli!"
"Woah..Elaine, can't breath..." I joked. Ban was also with her.
"I'm just happy, Elizabeth!" she kept on grinning.
"What Elaine is trying to say is 'thank you' for helping me. Helping us." Bansmiled as he leaned against the wall.
"Yeah, King and I wouldn't have come to a mutual agreement if you haven't pushed him to understand." Elaine and King finally set aside their pride huh? Good for King.
"On top of that, I don't have to sneak around anymore with Elaine..." Ban put his hand on her hip. "I don't like being secretive, Elaine. The world should know you're mine." I can see that Ban was the type to go public and not care. His words made Elaine blush.
"Congratulations you two...finally making it official huh?" I hugged my bestfriend.
"Yeah and uh...Ban and I were thinking..." she played with her fingers.
"of what?"
"Well, you've been so helpful to us that Ban, Gowther, Diane, Escanor, and even King tagged along...we sort of told Merlin that you should take a vacation."
"Wait ... wait... wait...Me? on vacation? But...who's gonna bake the cakes?" I panicked.
"Ban can multitask..." Elaine defended.
"And who's gonna cook?"
"Still Ban..."
"Arts and crafts?"
"I'm self taught. Trust me, Princess. You don't need to worry about a thing." Ban smirked. I turned to Elaine and she gave me a thumbs up.
"You guys..." this was very sweet of them.
"Besides, I think you're gonna need it especially with you know who..." Elaine winked. Oh my gosh! This is it! A miracle just happened. Elaine is right. With this vacation, I can spend my whole week with Meliodas. I don't have to worry about Liz being with him all the time.
"I'll do it!" she cheered.
"Great! I'll go tell Merlin and the others..." Elaine walked out leaving me with Ban. I noticed how his smirk turned into a thin line as he lightly glared at me.
"What?"
"You're still into him?" I know who he was talking about.
"Uh..yeah? What is your problem with him? You don't even know Meliodas..." Ban has been super weird when we hit Meliodas as the topic. I'm hoping this time he's gonna crack.
"I know him enough to know that he isn't the person I thought he was..." Ban replied. There was a tinge of distaste in his words.
"Ban, stop treating this conversation like a riddle. I don't follow any of your blank statements. Just tell me straight ahead."
"You want a straight answer? Sure...here's an answer. No matter how much you try to impress him, Meliodas will ALWAYS...choose HER over you." The way he sneered as he said that scared me. Ban deeply sighed before composing himself. "Anyways, enjoy your vacation, Princess. You deserve it." he walked out of the kitchen leaving me shocked and worried.
The Next Day...
So this was it. My one week vacation has just began. I never knew how lost I felt when i don't think about work by the afternoon. It's like theres nothing to look forward to. I was currently getting dressed to head out to the Boar's Hat.
Ban's words left me hanging. I was nervous as hell. It felt like he had broken my self-confidence. His statement alone scared me. Was he telling the truth? Are all my efforts of the past weeks been wasted? No! I refuse to believe that. Meliodas' was sincere with his words that he and Liz were no more and that he has no romantic connection towards her.
Then again, those two haven't seen each other in a while. And if Meldy is pushing them to get together, who knows what tricks Liz will pull to get him back. I'm very grateful for Elaine and Merlin for voting me to take a vacation. This opportunity is just what I need to prove Ban wrong.
Later on...
Here I am...the Boar's Hat. I pushed the mahogany door open. The smell of food and booze mixed together got me. This place always makes me feel at home with the country side. I scanned the room for Meliodas. I caught a lock of blonde hair just up ahead sitting on the table near the counter.
"Good morning, Meliodas..." I tapped him on the shoulder but the person who turned wasn't exactly Meliodas.
"Hmm? Oh..hi..?." she was just a kid. Around 10 years old I think? She wore a pink buttoned polo shirt and a navy blue skirt with combat boots. Her eyes were sparkling green and her hair was long and shaggy blonde hair. She...looks like a replica of Meliodas.
"Is there something you needed Miss?" the lady sitting next to her asked me. She had pink short hair and baby blue eyes. Both women looked at me questioningly. Wait, she looks familiar.
"Elizabeth!" Meliodas came over with a tray of food. He set it on the table.
"Dad...this food looks good." The blonde girl was drooling.
"Thank you, lemon." Meliodas ruffled her hair.
"Elizabeth..meet my daughter, Melodiaz...and Meldy, this is Elizabeth, the one I told you about." He winked.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Elizabeth..." she grinned. Meanwhile the girl next to her kept an emotionless face.
"And this is Liz..." Meliodas sounded bored. He gestured to the woman in pink hair. She had a 'poker face' on as she stetched out her hand to shake mine. I accepted.
So this was Liz. A beautiful woman...but I could tell that under that look is a deadly glare. If looks could kill, I'd be dead before we shook hands.
