chapter five

I knew that my cousin sister's family was wealthy but not to the extent of owning one of the most exclusive shopping mall in the country. The realization hit me with a wave of pure shock.

Keisty caused the car to take a turn that brunched out of the estates highway. We drove into a wide paved road where a line of palm trees separated ongoing from oncoming vehicle. Either side of the road was a loft of green lawn extended further away to l don't know where.

Here and there you would spot a little group of people with golf sticks or sitting on a soft blanket enjoying their picnic.

The car slowed down and l looked ahead. I almost swooned when l saw the large letters on the giant glass arch entrance. 'welcome to the CHARLESTON SHOPPING MALL'

My eyes were wide open when I turned to look at Keisty. A small smirk formed at the corner of her lips.

" It's family heirloom", she said it with so much ease that you would think she was talking about a necklace.

I noticed that the drivers of the cars ahead us were producing a small plastic card out from their windows when approaching the entrance to the mall. A security guard would come with a small barcode scanner in his hand and run it over the card then beckon for the driver to proceed.

When it was our turn, Keisty reached into her jacket pocket and took out a black and gold card. She extended her hand out. The security guard ran the scanner over the card and before he had finished, he jumped with a start.

It was as though he was noticing us for the first time. His eyes were wide opened and he quickly moved away from the car and bowed several times in a frantic attempt of an apology.

"My apologies, l didn't notice", only looking at his eyes could tell you that he was sincerely regretting.

Keisty just smiled understandingly and drove in. l noticed that she stopped the car in a reserved parking area.

" Ladies here we are", Keisty said pressing off the ignition button and opening her door. We all stepped out of the car and followed her.

It was the first time in my life seeing such architectural magnificence. The mall was one single tall round glass building almost the size of a football stadium. The entrance of the building were push-in glass doors round about the entire ground floor.

We made our way into the building. My jaws almost dropped as we walked to the center of the ground floor. It was almost like stepping into the natural world. There were dark green citrus trees intertwining all around. Tamed orange monkeys were jumping from tree to tree. I saw some kids handing over a bunch of bananas to a monkey and laughing excitedly as the other monkeys would chase him for the bananas.

The other side looked like an aquarium with a large glass.  Sharks and fish of different species and colors were proudly swimming and showing off their beauty. Some of the fish would momentarily stop, staring back at the people lined up by the glass staring at them.

Randomly in the open space you would pass by exotic super cars put to display. All of them were probably concept cars that you wouldn't come across for the next few years. They were all new with plastic still wrapped around the futuristic steering wheel and the seats.

We walked to the center where there was a large water fountain. I saw young couples and old couples softly dancing around the fountain. An orchestra band in red and black suites was playing classical music in the background.

I saw small children tossing coins in the fountain and making wishes. They were closing their eyes and joining their hands sincerely. The sight made my eyes well up. I reached my hand up to wipe my eyes.

" Are you crying?", Keisty asked with a worried look on her face.

"No, it's just that I am a bit overwhelmed", l answered honestly.

" I am glad you are already enjoying the start of our trip", she said.

I didn't understand what she meant when she said, ' the start' until l looked up the bright lit open space. A spiral of stairs was going around the large interior. They were passing around thousands of supermarkets, boutiques, furniture shops, restaurants, game rooms and further up. I gasped in awe struck.

Some people were just leaning on the glass rails looking down and enjoying the sight. I looked at Prisca,  she was walking at ease. I guessed it was like an everyday walk in the park to them. There were a lot of people than l would have expected for such an exclusive place. I once heard that there are places where rich people choose to mingle. These are the places where they propose business partnerships and ideas. This must be one of those places although all of them seemed to be leisurely strolling around.

" First off, we must blend in, so we need to dress up fabulously", Keisty said taking my hand.

" But aren't we dressed up already?", l whined.

"No we are not"

Prisca laughed at my pouty face. " You're cute "

I didn't want to go through another dress up but Keisty hooked my right arm in hers and Prisca took the other. They brought me up the stairs and in to an expensive boutique.

"Come on, this will be fun and it won't take long", Prisca said

" Plus it's one of the main reasons for our trip, to shop up clothes for you" , Keisty added.

Many female attendance ran to us when we were walking towards the lined up rails of hangers full of different women's wear. They were all eager to offer their help.

Keisty and Prisca left me into the hands of three attendance and they went on with their dress shopping. This left me a bit nervous.

One of the attendance was a mature women with a soft looking face. She came and submissively bowed her head before me.

" Good morning miss, could l have the pleasure of assisting you on choosing the apparel that does your beautiful form justice."

I felt a blush crip up my cheeks at her flattering. I quietly nodded. Her calm and warm aura helped me ease up a lot. We walked from isle to isle. She would pick up a dress then press it against my shoulders. When l agreed to try the dress she would hand it over to the two attendance and they would carefully pile them in their hands.

I turned when l heard one of the attendance stumble, she nearly fell. I noticed that the pile of dresses was now blocking her view. That's when l decided to stop and go try the dresses.

The mature women, smiled and then led me further down the boutique to a secluded corner. She pulled a wheeled full length mirror into the corner then motioned for me to come before the mirror. She then pulled a wheeled arch of curtains and drew them close. I was closed behind them and then she started reaching me dresses through the cracks of the curtains. One after the other l tried all the dresses. I was surprised that all the dresses l tried were perfectly laying down on my body like they were tailor made for me.

After a while she told me that l had tried all the dresses. I was amazed by the thought that l had never returned one. l ordered them to package the dresses and wait for me at the counter. In the meantime I was putting on a sparkling flowing dark blue dress.

When l walked out of the dressing room, l felt strange. Many women were gawking at me. I started feeling self conscious.

When I arrived at the counter, l saw  Keisty and Prisca already waiting for me. They were talking face to face without seeing me approaching them.

I almost couldn't recognize them because of their gorgeous dresses. Prisca was in a sparkling golden dress with an open back. She was wearing a matching pair of tight sleeves. The dress was flowing at the back but went above the knees at the front which was finished by a matching pencil skirt. She was wearing wedges with little golden butterflies that matched the golden butterfly clipping her blond hair.

Keisty was stunningly cute, dressed in a not so complicated but sophisticated dressing. The apparel looked perfect on her.

She was dressed in expensive scarlet satin fabric from top to bottom. The tight shoulderless top had an open middle fastened by thin black laces. This exposed the glistening skin of the valley of her chest and the tightness made her breast a bit bursty at the top. The hem of the top was dress like with its back almost falling to the floor but the front went above half her belly showing off the fine curves of her hips.

She was wearing close fitting high waist scarlet slacks. A silver zipper was visibly running over the area of her belly button. The silver zipper was matching the silver necklace and the zipper of her satin sleeves. She was also wearing open black high heels.

Keisty saw me over prisca's shoulder and stopped talking. Prisca also turned to look at me. I didn't miss the delight that shone on their faces as they ran their eyes from my face down to the hem of my dress.

Keisty walked and put her hands on my shoulders looking into my eyes.

"Always breathtaking no matter what you wear"

Keisty and Prisca insisted that the look should be completed with a necklace and heels. I halfheartedly agreed to go with them to the jewelry knowing that they would still win the argument if I had protested.

Prisca has a knack for shiney things l noticed. She was the one who was always picking one necklace after the other. At one point she picked up a diamond engagement ring and walked to me.

I raised one eyebrow questioningly. She gently took my hand in hers and slid the Diamond ring on my finger.

" Prisca, what are you doing?", l asked confused.

" We're engaged, we are a couple now", she said calmly.

"What!", l shouted in panic. Prisca began to laugh hysterically and that's when l figured out that she was jocking.

"Prisca stop teasing her", Keisty said from the other side of the shop.

Prisca was breathless from laughing." I know, it's just that she is fun and cute when she is teased."

Prisca pulled off the ring from my finger and returned it to the display.

" Arielle come over here, l think I have found something for you." Keisty said coming from the payment counter holding a small blue gift bag.

I walked to her and she looped her arm with mine. She walked me to a mirror and made me face it. She went behind me and gently placed her hands on my bare shoulders.

She stared into my eyes through the mirror and took my hair in her hand.

"Hold your hair and let me put the necklace for you", she said all the while without moving her gaze from my eyes.

She leaned closer into my neck making her breath brush over the pulse of my neck. I closed my eyes feeling goosebumps rise throughout my entire body.

I opened my eyes when I felt something cold around my neck. I saw a beautiful Diamond necklace glistening around my neck. I let my hair down still facing the mirror. Keisty was still looking into my eyes from behind.

" It's beautiful", l said looking back to her through the mirror.

"How do you feel", she asked

I searched my head for the most convincing words to express my feeling.

"I feel like I'm a spoiled wife", l said humorously expecting Keisty to laugh but she didn't.

She froze behind me with her eyes still looking into mine. I turned back to face her. Her eyes were now glistening like there were diamonds in them.

"Did you like it", she beat me to asking her.

" Yes l do, l like it so much. Everything you are doing for me today, l don't even know if l will ever be able to repay you."

She smiled in content and asked. "Can we continue other stuff after we get a small fill up, my stomach is now empty.

The three of us chose a table by the glass showing off the outside view. It was a classy restaurant with special dishes. I let Keisty and Prisca order the food because they were familiar with the dishes.

After eating we did shopping for shoes and for perfumes and cosmetics. We paid to play virtual reality games and we also paid for the photo booth.

We barely noticed the setting of the sun until lights were now vividly illuminated all over the place. We had moved down to the ground floor almost about to make our way to the exit of the mall.

I noticed that the orchestra band l had seen in the morning was now replaced by another group with both orchestra and jazz instruments. Somehow the song sounded familiar to me. Still couples were dancing around the fountain.

"Thank you for making this day special, l wouldn't be able to repay you", l said to both Keisty and Prisca.

Keisty turned to me and looked me into the eyes and smiled. She whispered something into Prisca's ear. Prisca's eyes opened wide and she nodded. Prisca pulled away from Keisty.

"Remember we must be going home soon", Prisca said to Keisty and Keisty nodded.

Prisca looked at me then back to Keisty. "I will be waiting for you in the car", she said skipping way.

Keisty looked at me with soft eyes." We are going home now but before we do, can you do me a favor".

I looked at her with a quizzical glance. she continued.

"Come to the dance floor with me", she said extending her hand for me to take.

I looked at her hand and then back to her face. I was trying to see if she wasn't also trying to pull my leg like Prisca always does.

Her face didn't tell anything playful. She looked piercingly into my eyes with mixture of seriousness and expectancy.

"But Keisty people will think ...."

"Does it really count?", she cut in. "What people think doesn't matter, come on please, this once".