They were orphaned. Kuya Ramon, who was ten years older than him, became his father and mother. Ramon never married. He spent his entire youth working in the fields, being a porter, and doing other odd jobs just to send Clara to America for an education. When Clara became successful, he promised to repay everything. Every month, he sent almost two hundred thousand to their Aunt Ising and cousin Belinda, whom he entrusted to take care of Ramon when he had a stroke and lost his eyesight five years ago.

According to Tita Ising, their dream house has been built. “Oh Clara, your brother’s room is beautiful! It has air conditioning, a soft bed, and even a private nurse! Don’t worry, he’s living like a prince here,” that’s what her Tita always said on the video call. Whenever Clara wanted to talk to Ramon, Belinda always said “Brother is sleeping” or “He’s in therapy,” so they often just chat using the cellphone Clara sent them. Clara was confident because they were related.

The car stopped in front of a very large and elegant house with a high gate. The paint was white and gold, there were lion statues in front, and it was obviously expensive. “This is it,” Clara whispered. “The essence of our suffering.” She got out of the car, adjusted her designer shades, and rang the doorbell.

A maid came out. “Who are they?” she asked. “I’m Clara. Ising’s niece. Are they there?” she replied. She was ushered in. Entering the living room, Clara was amazed by the splendor of the furnishings. There were the appliances she had sent, the furniture she had paid for. A little later, Aunt Ising and Belinda came down the grand staircase, both dressed in expensive clothes and loaded with jewelry.

“Clara?!” Tita Ising shouted in shock. She turned pale as if she had seen a ghost. “W-Why are you here? I thought you were coming home next month?!” Belinda was also confused, quickly hiding the new iPhone she was holding. “Surprise, Tita!” Clara said smiling as she kissed him. “I just want to see Kuya Ramon. Where is he? Is he in his room upstairs?”

The mother and son looked at each other. Their eyes showed nervousness and fear. “Ah… eh… Clara,” Belinda stammered. “Kuya Ramon isn’t here. He’s at… at what… at the therapy center in the other town! Yes, he’s staying there for now so the doctor can look at him.” Aunt Ising interjected, “That’s right! That’s right! He’s not coming back until next week. So rest up, Clara. You’re tired from the trip.”

Clara was surprised. “Therapy center? You didn’t mention anything like that to me. And besides, why do you seem scared?” Clara started to get nervous. There was a strange throbbing in her chest. The “blood rush.” She couldn’t believe it. “I’m going to see him. Which center is that?” she asked. “Oh, visitors are not allowed there! Strictly!” Aunt Ising excused.

Out of doubt, Clara asked to go to the bathroom. But instead of going to the bathroom, she slowly walked out the back door to the dirty kitchen and yard. She wanted to see the whole house. As she walked through the wide yard, she heard a soft cough coming from the far end, near the pig and chicken coop.

Clara approached. The smell was pungent—a mixture of animal dung and rotting garbage. Next to the pig pen, there was a small hut made of patchwork of corrugated iron and tarpaulin. There was no door, just a sack curtain. Clara peeked in.

And at that moment, her world stopped spinning. Her expensive bag fell into the mud.

Inside the dark and smelly hut, a man lay barefoot on an old pallet. He was very thin, almost skin and bones. He had long hair and a beard that was blackened by dirt. He was wearing a torn shirt and shorts. His eyes were white—blind. Flies were landing on the wounds on his legs. Next to him, there was a plastic bowl filled with rice mixed with water and a little salt—food worse than dog food.

“Water… water…” the man moaned softly.

Clara knew that voice. Even though it was hoarse, even though it was weak, she knew it well.

“Brother?” Clara called out harshly.

The man was stunned. He slowly got up, feeling for air. “C-Clara? Youngest? Is that you? Am I dreaming again?”

Clara burst into tears. She ran and hugged her brother tightly. She didn’t care about the dirt, the smell, the mud. She hugged the brother who had given her everything. “Brother! My God! What did they do to you?! Brother, I’m sorry! I’m sorry I only came now!” Clara’s cries echoed throughout the yard, full of pain and anger.

Ramon caressed his brother’s face with his rough, dirty palm. The blind Ramon was also crying. “Youngest… you’re here. Thank God. I thought I was going to die if I didn’t hug you.”

“They said you were in the air conditioner! They said you were treated like a queen! Why are you here next to the pig pen?!” Clara shouted as she looked at her brother’s bruises and wounds.

“I can’t do anything, Bunso,” Ramon whispered. “Ever since I had a stroke and went blind, they took my cellphone. They dumped me here. They told me you don’t have any money left. They said you’re struggling in America so they have to save me. My food is leftovers. Sometimes, they even forget.”

“They’re liars!” Clara shouted. “I send 200 thousand every month! This house, this is for you! The car, this is for you!”

At that point, Aunt Ising and Belinda arrived, panting. They saw the scene. They turned pale.

“Clara! Let me explain!” Aunt Ising shouted.

Clara stood up. Her face, which had previously been filled with tears, was now replaced with a terrifying anger. “Clara” the kind niece was gone. Facing them was “CEO Clara” who was used to running an empire and destroying enemies.

“Explain?!” Clara shouted, shaking the entire mansion. “What are you going to explain?! That you turned my sister into an animal while you indulged in my hard-earned money?! Your faces are so thick!”

“Clara, we’re a family! We’re just stuck! Ramon is so hard to take care of, he pees in the bed, so we put him here so the house doesn’t stink!” Belinda reasoned.

“PAKK!” A strong slap landed on Belinda’s face.

“Your behavior stinks more than pig droppings!” Clara scolded. “I named this house after Kuya Ramon! You are the ones living in it! You are the ones who will be fed! And then you will throw him out?!”

Clara took out her cellphone and called her lawyer and the police.

“Attorney, come here right now. You have the title to the land and house, right? And bring the police. I want these people out of my property. NOW. And I will file a case. Serious Illegal Detention, Maltreatment of Incapacitated Person, Estafa, and Qualified Theft!”

Aunt Ising knelt down. “Clara! Don’t! Have mercy! I’m your aunt! We’re your blood!”

“Blood?” Clara stared at her Aunt sharply. “The blood that flows through you is poison. When my brother was hungry, did you feel sorry for him? When he was cold here while you were in the air conditioner, did you remember that he was your blood? No. All you thought about was my money.”

The police and the lawyer arrived. The authorities could see Ramon’s condition. They immediately arrested Tita Ising and Belinda. They struggled, cursed, and screamed, but they could do nothing. They were dragged out of the mansion they thought was theirs. The neighbors came out, seeing the shame of the mother and daughter who had previously behaved like ladies in the barangay.

Clara and her driver picked up Kuya Ramon. They took him inside the mansion. Clara bathed her brother herself. She wiped away the dirt, she dressed him in new clothes, and she fed him delicious soup.

“Brother, I’m here. They’ll never hurt you again. You’ll never go hungry again. I’ll take care of you,” Clara cried as she tried to comfort her brother.

“Thank you, Bunso. The soup is delicious. It tastes like love,” smiled Ramon, who despite his blindness could see the light of hope.

In the following days, Clara had the house renovated to make it accessible to Ramon. She hired a private nurse and a physical therapist. With proper care and nutrition, Ramon’s strength gradually returned. Although his eyesight was not restored, he was happy to have his brother with him.

Tita Ising and Belinda are now rotting in jail. The case filed by Clara was not bailable due to the severity of the abuse. All the properties they bought with the stolen money were confiscated by the court. Clara also learned that Belinda was wasting the money on gambling and drugs. Karma took its toll on them.

One afternoon, while Ramon was sitting on the veranda, he held Clara’s hand.

“Youngest, don’t harbor anger in your heart, okay? What they did was bad, but God will take care of them. What’s important is that we are whole.”

Clara hugged her brother. “Yes, Brother. My wealth, my success, it’s worthless without you. You are my true wealth.”

Clara proved that money can be earned, but there is only one family that truly loves. And in the end, evil always has its limits, and goodness and truth always prevail. The “pig” they put in Ramon became a symbol of their downfall, and the love between the siblings became the foundation of their new beginning.