Old wounds felt fresh again. Simon let out a loud sigh.
He looked at Duardo, who was cowardly. If Duardo had not stopped him at the cemetery, he could have retaliated on behalf of his parents.
The next day, he went to look for the graves again. He had to; he just did not know why. He stayed there for hours. He stared at the cemented fence around Paterno Borja’s property; he did not even try to go near it. Tears began to form in the corner of his eyes.
Were you able to find them, son?’ asked the old man whom Simon had talked to the previous day.
Simon shook his head. People started arriving at the cemetery to clean the tombs of their loved ones. Tomorrow, the cemetery would be full of people offering prayers for their departed loved ones.
Simon did not linger at the cemetery for long. He left hurriedly. At the gate, he saw a horse carriage parked.
Is there a vacant seat?’ he asked the old coachman.
The man pointed at the vacant seat beside a grieving woman.
‘I need a ride.’
Simon climbed into the horse carriage and it sped away at the height of noon. They travelled across the downtown streets. The horse never changed its pace. The coachman continued to whip it, too.
The coachman heaved loudly upon reaching the rural area.
Wait for me, Simon told the coachman upon reaching Ka Tindeng’s hut. He jumped off. He grabbed his remaining pieces of clothing from the midwife’s house and set off.
‘Where are you going, Simon?’ asked Ka Tindeng, who was shocked. Hulyan, Duardo, and Saling watched as the two talked.
‘I’m leaving for Manila again, Ka Tindeng.’ Simon embraced her. ‘I will go back to Manila, Ka Tindeng. I will not
return without a plan for vengeance. I swear, Ka Tindeng.’
Simon went out and got into the horse carriage. The coachman once again whipped the horse. Simon passed by his former hut, but did not look back. He met some farmers on his way, but he did not greet them. He held on tightly to the window of the carriage.
Bleeding Sun is a gripping story of a farmer’s son who grows up motherless, loses his father, runs away from home and comes back with a silent revenge. Get a copy of this latest addition to our Southeast Asian Classics today!
