In the bustling neighborhood of Kito, lived a peculiar family of five—Dad, a watchman with a talent for keeping secrets, Mom, the heart of the household, and their three children: Tilo, the eldest and ever-so-slightly naïve; Lemi, the mischievous middle child; and Kiya, the youngest with a knack for asking the most inconvenient questions.

Life in their small, cozy home was always lively, but things took an unexpected turn when Tilo, at the tender age of 23, announced that she was madly in love. The lucky guy? A charming man named Paulo. Tilo went on and on about how perfect Paulo was—kind, funny, and with a smile that could melt the polar ice caps. The family was happy for her, but none more so than Dad, who smiled a little too widely whenever Paulo's name came up.

Unbeknownst to Tilo, Paulo wasn’t just any man. Years ago, Paulo had been in a serious relationship with Aunt Malaika, Tilo’s vivacious and somewhat dramatic aunt. The relationship had ended on good terms, but it left Aunt Malaika with a soft spot—and an unopened box of Paulo's old letters in her closet.

When Aunt Malaika learned about Tilo's new beau, she nearly fainted. “Paulo? *My* Paulo?” she gasped, clutching her pearls like a true soap opera star. Awkward didn’t even begin to cover it. She didn’t know how to break the news to Tilo and thought Dad would be the best person to do it. But Dad, for reasons known only to him, decided to keep quiet. Perhaps it was his years of watchman training—see everything, say nothing—that made him tight-lipped.

As the weeks passed, Paulo became a regular at the house, charming everyone with his jokes and easy-going nature. But Aunt Malaika avoided him like a bad rash, and Mom started noticing something strange. Paulo, it seemed, had developed a sudden interest in the kitchen—more specifically, in Mom’s culinary skills. Every evening, he would linger a bit too long, offering to help with the dishes, chatting with Mom about the “good old days,” and complimenting her in ways that made her blush like a teenager.

Then came the day of reckoning. Aunt Malaika, unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, cornered Dad. “You *have* to tell Tilo the truth, or I will!” she demanded. But before they could decide on how to break the news, another bombshell dropped.

One evening, after dinner, Paulo got down on one knee—not in front of Tilo, but in front of Mom. “Lydia,” he began, holding out a small box, “will you make me the happiest man alive and be mine?”

Mom dropped the ladle she was holding, Dad spat out his tea, and Tilo, standing at the doorway, froze like a deer in headlights. Aunt Malaika screamed from the hallway, “I knew it! I knew this would happen!”

The room exploded into chaos. Kiya ran around the house yelling, “Paulo wants to marry Mommy!” while Lemi grabbed the ring box, hoping to pawn it off later. Amidst the pandemonium, Dad finally confessed that he’d known about Paulo and Aunt Malaika all along, and had also noticed Paulo’s budding affection for Mom but hoped it would blow over.

Needless to say, it didn’t blow over.

Paulo, now sweating bullets, tried to backpedal, explaining that his feelings for Tilo were real, but he also couldn’t ignore the connection he felt with Mom. Tilo, utterly bewildered, burst into tears. Aunt Malaika grabbed a frying pan, looking like she might use it on Paulo.

At that moment, it was clear—the family had to make a decision. But before they could even gather around the table to discuss it, Mom, in her infinite wisdom, took matters into her own hands. She calmly picked up the ladle, pointed it at Paulo, and said, “Paulo, I think it’s time for you to leave.”

And leave he did, sprinting out the door with Aunt Malaika close on his heels, frying pan in hand.

After the dust settled, the family sat down together, shaking their heads and laughing at the absurdity of it all. Tilo, though heartbroken, was relieved to be rid of the drama. And as for Dad, he learned that some secrets were better shared early on.

In the end, the family grew closer through the madness, united by the realization that no matter how charming someone might be, they were no match for the strength and wisdom of a family that sticks together.

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The neighborhood soon buzzed with the story of "the uninvited groom," and for weeks, Paulo’s sprint out of the house was the talk of the town. As for the family, they moved on, with Tilo swearing off love for a while and Aunt Malaika locking away Paulo’s old letters for good.