Are You The One?

Chapter 3

The next morning, Manny had an insane adrenaline rush. He looked at himself in the mirror with  heavy concentration.

He had decided not wear his hat and signature green shirt and blue jeans. He had instead chosen a white shirt and dark brown trousers with suspenders. 

"Magnifico, Manny!" said Squeeze. "You're so cute!" 

Manny chuckled. "Thanks Squeeze!"

He dialled Kelly's number on the telephone.

"Hola, Kelly's Hardware Store!"

"Hey Kelly!"

"Hola Manny! What's up?"

"Uh, would you be interested in hanging out with me?"

"Sure Manny!" she said in an excited tone. "I'll be there right away!"

Manny was elated beyond boundaries. "Tools, get ready! She's coming!"

"Yes!" crooned Dusty. "Come on!"

The sleepiness was now gone from all the tools' eyes. They quickly arranged themselves in a line and waited.

Soon, Kelly walked into the shop with a tinkle of the bell. She was wearing a white dress with embroidered red roses.

Manny couldn't take his eyes off her. She was too beautiful.

"Hi Manny, how are you-WOW!"

"What?" asked Manny.

"You look amazing," she replied. 

"You too."

Kelly went pink for a second. But she quickly recovered and said, "Where are we going?"

"You'll soon know," he said. 

With a song on their lips, his tools hopped into his toolbox, and soon, they set out for the seaside. Kelly was confused as to why Manny was carrying his guitar along, but didn't say anything.

When they reached, Kelly had butterflies in her stomach. She'd had a crush on the amiable and good-looking Manny for a long time now. What could be the reason he had brought her to this beautiful spot, that too on her birthday?

"Come on, Kelly," said Manny.

She stepped out of the truck, and slowly held Manny's hand. 

"Surprise!" came a loud scream.

She and Manny turned to see Elliot and all their friends, armed with balloons and party hats. 

"Feliz cumpleaños, Kelly. Happy birthday!" said Manny.

"Thank you so much, Manny!" she said, and gave him a tight hug.

Manny went red immediately. All the tools, except for Turner, laughed.

Pepe ran to Kelly to give her the greeting card that he had made. She smiled and kissed the little boy on his forehead.

She blew out the candles on the pink iced chocolate cake Mrs Portillo had baked, and cut it. As everyone took a bite from their piece, Manny took his guitar made his announcement.

"I have a song to dedicate to Kelly, she has been the main reason why my tools and I have always been successful in our jobs."

Everyone immediately pursed their lips, and listened with utmost interest.

Manny strummed his guitar and sang, and the tools backed his vocals.

He finished the song, and the listeners broke into a thunderous applause. "Bravo, Manny!" said Mr Alvarez. "I never knew that you had it in you."

"Thank you so much, Manny," said Kelly. She hugged him again and to Manny's shock -

She kissed him on the cheek. 

Nobody noticed it, of course. Manny quickly recovered, or at least, pretended to.

When he returned to his shop that evening, he still wasn't out of his ecstasy. "Manny, you have never been like this before! What happened?" asked Squeeze, concerned.

"Probably Manny is shy because Kelly kissed him!" lisped Stretch.

Manny gestured the tape measure to be quiet. "You've always liked Kelly, Manny," said Felipe. "For years," completed Pat.

Turner, as usual, ignored all this playful banter. Dusty, Flicker and Rusty joined in to tease him. But Manny quickly lulled them to sleep and went home. 

"Am I really?" he thought, as he looked at the full moon rising in the night sky. "In love with Kelly?"

He decided to think it over the next morning. But he couldn't get a wink of sleep, as Kelly was full of his dreams.