The Seven, and their Wealth. II

II - Jenner.

'Olivia, where are we even going?' Jenner complained, growing agitated at how seemingly lost they were, walking round in circles inside the Mall of Africa. The pair had spent the last twenty minutes now walking around trying not to look lost but evidently were.

Jenner's best friend, clad in a chic off-shoulder dress and heels, duly instructed Jenner to dress up to go celebrate Jenner's twentieth birthday.

Naturally, Jenner wanted the day over and done with. She developed a disdain all the attention that came with it. People you haven't been in touch with for over six months suddenly resurrect themselves and draft long messages expressing how much they love and miss you before engaging in small talk, that lasts a little under three hours, before going back to being strangers. Jenner hated small talk.

The golden rule, for those closest to her, was to pass along simple birthday wishes before calling it a day.

Olivia, however, was the exception.

The only other living person, outside of Mark and Ramadimetja, who'd burst with infectious excitement over Jenner's birthday. As per tradition Olivia would announce a weekly countdown to her birthday, and Jenner's hopes for a day without any attention being drawn to her would be immediately drowned out.

This year was most certainly no different.

When her three-p.m. class concluded, Jenner was afforded an opportunity to see Olivia. It was a sight to behold. Already exhausted from what was, Olivia sprung up on Jenner with a barrage of balloons, a bouquet of sunflowers, and a gift card for treatments for two at a spa in the North West. Jenner swallowed the lump in her throat when Olivia announced more was to come.

She spent her last moments on campus lugging around gifts, which she loved. Her sunflowers looked as radiant as Olivia's Hollywood smile that greeted Jenner. Olivia did not know it, but Jenner was deeply grateful to have a friend like her.

They briefly separated for the evening. Olivia did ask that Jenner meet her later, she intended to take her friend to dinner. Mark was called in for an aortic root replacement at a hospital in Lyttleton, Ramadimetja would be having another late night lecturing her part-time students while Werner simply did not give his plans, just a simple birthday wish before going on about his day.

'Just follow me, Jen,' Olivia squealed.

Jenner rolled her eyes getting tired of walking around in her heels. A new Tommy Hilfiger pair she spoilt herself with, and they went well with the ivory long-sleeved mini dress.

'In case you have failed to realize, I have been doing that for some time now. I swear, this is tiring; so are the boys that keep stopping us to get your numbers.'

Olivia snickered.

'Oh, come on, they want yours too. You know the last one was not bad. He seemed adamant to take you out. Why you declined, I will never understand.'

'I did not dress up to walk around this maze of a mall and have random strangers approach me. It's my birthday, there's so much more I could be doing.'

'Like what Jenner Fenton?'

Jenner choked on a response. Her idea of so much more merely was staying in and baking espresso-infused chocolate cupcakes. They would probably be all eaten by sunrise.

'Exactly. Be patient, we're almost there miss Fenton.'

Their hair had been tied up to a loose high bun, while Jenner sported a pair of white gold Jack Friedman diamond Palesa studs, gifted by her parents.

'Okay Olivia, if you do not tell me where we are going, I literally will turn back and go home.'

'We're almost there Jenner, believe me. It's this restaurant I've been meaning for you to try, you probably have. I don't know; you just have this habit of doing everything while lurking in the shadows.'