A Cuban known on social media as Ely, la cubana en pijama (@elyenpijama), has gone viral on TikTok after sharing how her much-anticipated surprise trip to Cuba took a turn for the worse due to a "snitch" who leaked the news prematurely.
Ely explained that she had been planning her arrival without notifying anyone for months, hoping to surprise her mother and reunite with her family after such a long time. "I never pull off surprises because I usually rely on my family to buy the tickets. But this time, I wanted to do it on my own," she shared. To throw them off, she had even told them that she would be traveling in a few months, when her flight was already about to depart.
Confident that everything would work out, she asked her son's grandmother —on the paternal side— to send a taxi to the airport. She knew that family had no contact with hers and this way she could avoid the high prices of airport taxi drivers. However, the plan fell apart when the news leaked: "There's always a snitch who ruins the surprises," she said with a laugh. According to her, her son's father found out about the trip and, like never before, went to ask his parents in Cuba for money, claiming that Ely had requested a car for that very day.
The creator explained that the money was part of a family favor that is often done from abroad: her parents send her money in euros, and in return, they give the equivalent in local currency to her son's father, as direct transfers are not possible from Cuba. This time, however, the coincidence ruined the surprise. “I found out just before takeoff,” she said. “Everything would have gone well if I had paid more for a taxi at the airport, but, well, these are unforeseen events that ultimately are worth it.”
Ely acknowledged that the misunderstanding caused some annoyance to her mother, who found out about the trip earlier than expected. Even so, she took the situation in good humor and appreciated the love with which she was received. “My mom cleaned the little house, put up mosquito nets, and waited for me with all the love in the world,” she recounted. “The important thing is to be with family; money can be recovered, moments cannot.”
The video exceeded tens of thousands of views and generated a wave of affectionate comments. “You're bad at giving surprises,” joked one follower. Others highlighted the value of the reunion: “Just recharge yourself with love; it’s the best thing.” Ely responded gratefully: “It’s wonderful to be close to mom. Happy New Year to everyone, and thank you for all the support.”
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