As Senoinoi walked through the school gate, she thought to herself.

"Why am I feeling like this after what happened yesterday? Why is my heart beating so fast, as if an electric shock is running through my body?"

Lucky suddenly tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey! What's wrong with you?"

He laughed. "Where were you? You jumped when I touched you. Your mind must have been somewhere far away."

Even though Lucky was her friend, Senoinoi wasn't happy to see him.

"That boy always confuses my mind," she thought.

Lucky looked into her eyes and whispered teasingly, "You look extra beautiful today."

Senoinoi forced a small smile. It wasn't a smile from her heart. She ignored him and walked into her classroom.

When the lunch bell rang, Simon walked straight toward Senoinoi.

He smiled warmly.

"There she is... the love of my heart. Every time I see her, my whole body trembles."

Senoinoi quickly reminded herself,

"No, I mustn't let Simon know that I'm happy about what he told me yesterday."

Simon gently held her hand.

"Good afternoon, my love. I hope you slept well."

Senoinoi tried not to smile. She pulled her hand back slightly and acted as if his words meant nothing.

"Why are you following me? What do you want?"

Simon held her hand a little tighter.

"My love, why do you look unhappy? Did I do something wrong?"

Senoinoi felt her heart pounding.

"Why do I feel like this whenever Simon is near me? Is this... love? Ah... who can I ask about love?"

Simon gently stroked her hand while looking into her eyes.

"Senoi..."

Simon leaned closer and whispered into her ear

"Will you love me?"

 Senoinoi not replied,

Simon's eyes shone with happiness as he smiled at her.

Senoinoi smiled back, unable to hide the feelings growing inside her.

"I love you, beautiful. Meet me at Moriks' shop after school. Can't you see how the other students are looking at us?"

Senoinoi couldn't control her emotions anymore. She still didn't understand why she felt this way.

Senoinoi was a beautiful nineteen-year-old high school student. Her closest friend was Lucky, who was also nineteen. Simon, another nineteen-year-old student at the same school, had secretly fallen in love with her.

As Senoinoi walked through the school gate, she thought to herself...

Just then, Lucky hurried over.

"Hey, you two! What are you doing? This is school!"

Senoinoi stepped away, leaving Simon and Lucky together.

Simon laughed.

"Why do you look so jealous, boy?"

Lucky didn't answer. Instead, he walked straight to Senoinoi and gently pulled her by the hand.

"Why are you smiling to yourself? What's gotten into you?"

But Senoinoi's mind was filled with Simon's face and the sweet words he had spoken.

"His words feel so wonderful..."

"Eish..."Senoinoi said.

Lucky frowned and lightly pushed her.

"Hey! I'm talking to you. What's wrong with you?"

Senoinoi only smiled even more without answering him.

Before they could continue, the school bell rang, and everyone returned to their classrooms.

After school, Lucky grabbed Senoinoi by the hand.

"Today, I'm taking you home. I want to tell your mother that you're in love. You're still a child, Senoinoi. You should stop this."

Senoinoi frowned and replied angrily,

"Why are you bringing my mother into this? You're not my guardian. Leave me alone."

Seeing that she was upset, Lucky quickly tried to calm her down.

"I'm sorry, my friend. I'm just worried about you. Think carefully before you fall in love. The consequences of love can be very painful."

Without saying another word, Senoinoi walked away.

Simon had already noticed that Lucky was jealous whenever he was with Senoinoi.

Around five o'clock, as Senoinoi walked through the gate of Moriks' shop, Simon was waiting for her.

He gently held her hand.

She jumped slightly.

"Why did you scare me like that?"

Simon smiled shyly.

"Love makes me nervous, my love. Let's go somewhere private."

Senoinoi lowered her voice.

"What if we go behind the shop?"

They walked behind the shop where no one was around.

Simon looked deep into her eyes. His voice trembled with nervousness.

"So... will you love me?"

Senoinoi laughed softly.

"I don't know anything about love. You're the first boy who has ever spoken to me about it."

She could barely swallow because she was so nervous.

Simon smiled.

"Then I'll teach you what love is."

Senoinoi laughed again.

"And who taught you either?"

Simon was becoming impatient. He desperately wanted to hear her answer. Holding both of her hands, he looked straight into her eyes without blinking.

When he realized that Senoinoi couldn't answer because her emotions had overwhelmed her, he slowly leaned closer and kissed her.

"I love you too, my love," Senoinoi whispered.

She lowered her head shyly and drew circles on the ground with her foot.

Simon smiled.

"You're as beautiful as a butterfly, my love."

Before he could finish speaking...

Slap!

A loud slap landed across his face.

His vision blurred.

"What do you think you're doing?" Simon ‘s mother shouted.

"Oh, Mom..."

Simon bent over, seeing stars from the force of the slap.

"Beautiful, like a butterfly!"

"A butterfly? Have you lost your mind, Simon?"

She tried to grab Senoinoi, but the frightened girl quickly stepped back and stood silently, her eyes wide with fear and 

She looked closely at Senoinoi.

"Oh... you're Mokgadi's daughter."

Senoinoi gently held her cheek, too shocked to say a word.

"I'm not denying that you're beautiful. Everyone in the village talks about your beauty. But stay away from my son!"

She stepped closer, forcing Senoinoi to move back.

"Mom, leave her alone! She has done nothing wrong. I was the one who asked her to come here."

That only made Simon's mother even angrier.

"You think you're a grown man now? I'll teach you a lesson!"

Simon took a step back.

"And you, young girl, listen carefully. You're not good enough for my son. I don't care how beautiful you are. I never want to see you anywhere near him again."

"Do you know the kind of family Simon comes from? He belongs to a wealthy family. He should fall in love with a rich girl from a rich family."

Senoinoi stood there silently, staring at Simon's mother.

"Didn't you hear me? Go home!"x

She picked up a stone.

Terrified, Senoinoi quickly took off her shoes, grabbed them in her hands, and ran as fast as she could.

Simon's mother chased after her, throwing stones, but every stone missed.

Simon quietly turned around and walked back home.

The people who had been at the shop were shocked by Simon's mother's loud voice and the way she kept talking about her family's wealth.

When Senoinoi arrived home, her mother looked at her in surprise.

"Senoinoi, what's wrong? Why are you carrying your shoes in your hands? Did something happen?"

Senoinoi sat down, took a deep breath, and thought to herself, How am I going to explain why I'm carrying my shoes? I'll have to lie to my mother. Oh... I wish I had never argued with Maisha, she thought with a small laugh.

"Don't ever run into the house like that again," her mother warned.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I won't do it again," Senoinoi replied politely.

She went into her bedroom, threw herself onto her bed, closed her eyes, and started thinking about Simon.

"Now I'm in love again. My whole body trembles whenever Simon holds my hand. It's as if he speaks a language that only my heart understands.

But now Simon's mother has come between us, boasting about how rich they are. I shouldn't worry about her. She was once my age too.

The only thing I don't know is whether Simon will leave me because of his mother's words, or whether he will stand against what she said."

"Senoinoi! Aren't you coming to eat? I want to wash the dishes and go to bed," her mother called.

Senoinoi came out of her room with a bright smile.

"Mom, it's only six o'clock. Why do you want to eat before seven today?"

Her mother looked at her carefully.

"Why are you so happy? Is there something that's making you smile?"

Senoinoi smiled even more.

"Mom, am I supposed to be sad all the time?"

Her mother smiled back.

"Don't forget, you're my only child. I should know everything that happens in your life."

Those words made Senoinoi a little uncomfortable, but she hid her feelings behind another smile.

"If anything happens, Mom, I'll tell you. But right now, there's nothing to worry about."

Meanwhile, Simon had locked himself inside his bedroom. His mother kept shouting at him, but he never answered.

Not long afterwards, Simon's father arrived home from work. He owned five restaurants stores.

The moment he stepped inside, his wife started complaining about Simon and Senoinoi.

"Today I almost killed your son. Next time I really will!"

Simon's father sighed. He knew his wife often exaggerated.

"What did Simon do that makes you want to kill him?"

"While I was washing the dishes, Lucky came running as fast as he could. He told me that Simon was holding hands with that Mokgadi's girl at Moriks' shop."

"I rushed there immediately. When I arrived, I found them standing together, smiling at each other. They didn't even care that people were watching them."

Simon's father jumped to his feet in anger.

"Where is that boy?"

"He's in his room," Sophia replied.

He shouted loudly,

"Simon! Simon! Come here right now!"

Simon hurried out of his room. He was frightened, ashamed, and too embarrassed to lift his head.

He stood in front of his father.

His father grabbed him by the collar and glared at him.

"What were you doing with that girl? Don't you know how respected I am in this village? Are you trying to ruin my reputation by running around with girls from unknown families?"

Simon was so terrified that he simply nodded his head, not even knowing what he was agreeing to.

His father continued scolding him angrily.

"If I ever see you with that girl again, I'll break your neck!"

He shoved Simon to the floor.

Simon quickly stood up, tears streaming down his face, and ran back into his bedroom.

His father followed him to the door.

"You're only nineteen years old. What do you know about love?"

"Even if you're grown up, you still don't know which girls are right for you."

"Why would you choose to date a girl who doesn't even know who her father is? You were raised by both your parents."

After saying those harsh words, Simon's father walked away from the bedroom door.

At eight o'clock that evening, Simon's mother went to his bedroom and knocked.

"Simon, my son, we were only correcting you. We're not fighting with you. Come out and eat."

Simon remained silent because he was deeply hurt and angry.

His father called out from the living room.

"Sophia... Sophia... leave that boy alone and come eat. If he chooses not to eat, that's his problem. Why are you forcing him?"

Simon's mother suddenly felt guilty and her heart became heavy.

The next morning, Simon's father woke up shouting.

"Simon, bring me your phone. It seems to be the thing causing all these problems."

Without saying a word, Simon handed the phone to his father. He had always been an obedient child and never talked back to his parents.

He picked up his school bag and left for school.

On his way, he saw Lucky. Simon quickly walked up to him without even greeting him.

"Tell me something. Why did you go to my house and tell my mother about me and Senoinoi? What were you trying to do?"

Lucky became angry too.

"I was only trying to protect my loyal friend, Senoinoi."

Simon replied angrily,

"Did Senoinoi ever ask for your protection?"

Lucky lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, my friend. I made a mistake. Please don't let this destroy our friendship. We've grown up together."

Simon took a deep breath.

"Don't ever do that again. My parents have already taken my phone because of you."

The two boys walked to school together.

During break time, Simon entered Senoinoi's classroom, placed a small notebook on her desk, and quietly walked away.

Senoinoi opened it and smiled as she started reading.

Before she could finish, Lucky rushed over, grabbed the notebook from her hands, and quickly read the letter.

Senoinoi became furious. She chased after him, snatched the notebook back, and shouted,

"Do you think you can control my life? Why are you reading my letter? Your behavior is completely wrong!"

Lucky forced a small laugh, although he felt ashamed.

After school, Simon and Senoinoi walked home hand in hand.

They agreed to meet later that afternoon at White Mount, behind their village.

Meanwhile, Lucky hurried to Simon's house.

"Grandma!" he called.

Sophia smiled when she saw him because she had asked him to keep an eye on Simon and Senoinoi.

"Where are Simon and that girl?" she asked.

Lucky answered immediately,

"Simon wrote Senoinoi a letter. They're going to meet at White Mount, near the big rock, at five o'clock."

Sophia was shocked.

"Ah... Simon doesn't know when to stop. Thank you, my child."

As Lucky was leaving, Simon saw him coming out of his house. Simon quickly hid behind the fence so Lucky wouldn't notice him.

He spoke to himself.

"That boy is trying to start a war between me and my mother. My parents can do whatever they want because of Senoinoi, but they'll never separate us. Even if they beat me, I don't care."

Simon quietly entered the house through the back door, went to his room, changed his clothes, and rushed out again.

He climbed White Mount and sat on top of a large rock, looking down toward the village.

A little later, Senoinoi hurried home, changed her clothes, and climbed the mountain too.

As soon as she saw Simon sitting on the rock, her heart raced, and a bright smile spread across her face.

Simon stretched out his hand, pulled her closer, and looked into her eyes.

"You are the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with."

"What do you say, my love?"

Senoinoi covered her face with both hands because she was so shy.

Simon gently lifted her onto the rock where he was sitting and kissed her.

As they embraced, Simon suddenly heard a loud smack.

He turned around to see who had hit him and found his mother standing there.

Mom!"

"Mom, what are you doing here? Why are you treating me like a little child? Next month I'll be twenty years old!"

His mother answered angrily,

"So, because you're turning twenty, you think you're a man now?"

She stepped closer, raising her hand, ready to slap him

Senoinoi ran as fast as a rabbit and rushed into her home.

Simon became furious, and tears streamed down his face.

"Whether you and Mom like it or not, I am still going to love Senoinoi. You can even kill me if you want."

Simon's mother was extremely angry.

"Are you saying that you are still going to continue your relationship with that poor girl?"

Simon pouted.

"Whether she is poor or rich, I don't care. I love her."

After saying that, he walked past his mother and went down the hill.

When he arrived home, he quickly packed some of his clothes and went to his uncle's house because it was not far away.

When his mother arrived home, she could not find him.

That night, they went to sleep without knowing where Simon was.

In the middle of the night, Jacob, Simon's father, asked his wife,

"Where did Simon go?"

She replied,

"I don't know. When I came back from the hill, I thought he had already arrived home, but I was surprised to find that he was not here."

Jacob sighed.

"That boy is becoming impossible. Where could he be?"

He got out of bed and went.

His wife followed him.

"Don't worry too much. He will come back."

Jacob shook his head.

"That boy is blinded by his love for a girl who is not suitable for him."

Senoinoi was also heartbroken. She lay awake, unable to sleep.

"There is no point in forcing this relationship with Simon. Look at what is happening. His mother keeps following us. She does not like me and does not even want to see me with her son. If I continue, I will only bring trouble to him.

It is better for me to stay away from Simon. Maybe we are still too young to be in love, but I am nineteen years old, and Simon is also nineteen years old.

Honestly, I don't know what to believe anymore."

The next morning, Lucky went to Senoinoi's home, and the two of them walked to school together.

On their way, they saw Simon coming toward them quickly.

When he reached them, he grabbed Lucky by the collar.

"I warned you the other day! I told you not to tell my mother about me and Senoinoi."

Senoinoi looked shocked.

"So you were the one who told Simon's mother about us?"

Lucky nodded.

"Yes, it was me. Senoinoi, I was trying to protect you. Simon already has a girl his parents chose for him to marry."

Simon hit Lucky.

Confused, Senoinoi turned to Simon.

"Is what Lucky is saying true?"

Simon let go of Lucky, held Senoinoi's hand, and looked at her.

"No, it is not true. Lucky leaves school every day and goes to my house to tell my mother about us. That clearly shows my mother asked him to interfere in our relationship."

Still confused, Senoinoi pulled her hand away.

"Let me go, Simon. From today, don't talk to me anymore. I need some time.

And you too, Lucky. Don't come to my home anymore, and don't talk to me either. I want to focus on my final exams in peace."

After saying that, Senoinoi turned around and walked away.

At ten o'clock, Jacob arrived at the school and went to see the principal, Prince.

"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Mr. Jacob Morena. How can I help you today?"

Jacob is Simon'father.

Jacob replied,

"I would like to speak to my son, Simon."

The principal nodded.

"Certainly. Let us go to his classroom."

Simon remained outside while Jacob followed the principal.

A few moments later, the principal returned with Simon.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" the principal asked.

"No, sir. I only came to give my son his house key."

The principal smiled.

"That is perfectly fine."

Jacob smiled back.

"Thank you very much."

As soon as the principal walked away, Jacob looked at Simon angrily and spoke in a low voice.

"You disappointed me, my son. Where did you sleep last night?"

Simon lowered his head.

"I slept at my uncle's house."

Jacob handed him the key.

"Take this key. When I return from the fields, I expect to find you at home."

With that, he turned around and walked to his vehicle.

Simon felt miserable because Senoinoi no longer wanted to speak to him.

After school, Simon went home and found his mother eating.

"Good afternoon, Mom."

His mother welcomed him warmly.

"Oh, my son! Tell me, where did you sleep last night?"

She opened her arms, wanting to hug him.

Still upset, Simon showed no interest. He folded his arms and looked away.

His mother immediately realized that he did not want her hug.

"I'm sorry, my child. I should not have followed you to the hill yesterday.

But being a parent is not easy, especially because you are my only child."

Without saying a word, Simon walked into his bedroom and threw himself onto the bed.

After a while, he sat up and thought,

"So, I have really lost Senoinoi. She does not even want to talk to me anymore."

The following week was the final examination week.

Simon was no longer allowed to walk to school alone. His parents decided to take him to school and pick him up every day.

He woke up early, excited to go to school. After preparing everything he needed, he headed toward the door.

Just as he was about to leave, Jacob called out,

"Son, wait for me. I will take you to school."

Simon sat outside the house and waited.

A few moments later, Jacob came out.

"How do you feel today? You are starting your final exams, and this is your last year at this school.

Next year, you will be at Wits University."

Simon smiled.

"I am very happy, Dad. I will work hard because Wits University has already accepted me. The important thing now is to make sure my marks do not drop."

Jacob patted him on the shoulder.

"That is true, my son. I am proud of you."

When they arrived at school, Simon sat alone and thought,

"I need to forget about love for now. Otherwise, I might fail to make it to university next year. This is not the time for distractions."