Are You The One?

Chapter 6

Fifteen days had passed.

Manny recalled Abuelito and Mrs Portillo's wedding as he made his way to the shop that early morning. He didn't call her Abuelita yet. But the moment Kelly looked at him with the bridal bouquet in her hands, flashed in front of his eyes as if it had happened only yesterday.

"I can't shy away anymore," he said to himself. "I'm sure she likes me."

He opened the door with a tinkle of the bell.

Inside, Dusty was telling the other tools to clean up the table. "Hoy, Turner! Put those nuts in that jar! Squeeze, Stretch, put those bolts in this jar!"

"Hey guys!" Manny greeted. "Hey Manny!" the tools bellowed with excitement on seeing their owner. 

"Dusty, I must say, you are a very responsible tool." 

"I've always been responsible," replied Dusty. "It's nothing new."

Manny sat on the sofa, still thinking.  All of a sudden, the phone rang.

"Hola, Handy Manny's repair shop! You break it-"

"We fix it!"

"This is Manny."

"Hola Manny! This is Lola."

"Hey Lola! My favourite sister. How're you? What can I do for you today?"

"It's nothing actually," Lola explained. "I was just looking at the horoscopes of everyone in our family, and yours says that you are in love with a girl who has her origins in Ireland!"

"Ireland?" wondered Manny. Just then, he remembered Kelly telling him that her paternal great-grandfather was Irish.

"What else does it say?" he asked excitedly.

"It says that your girl is a person who deals with hard items," said Lola. "And someone whom you've known for years. Who is it?"

"Er, I myself don't know," answered Manny. "Anyway, thanks Lola!"

"Anytime, mi hermano."

Manny was euphoric. Whatever his sister had said, was true. But he was interrupted by Pat.

"Who was it, Manny?" asked the hammer. "What do we have to fix today?"

"It was Lola," he replied. "Just a casual call."

Manny was thinking hard. His tools had to know about his feelings for Kelly. He couldn't keep it under wraps. 

"Hey guys, I want to tell you something important," he whispered.

"We know what you're gonna tell us, Manny!" said Squeeze, chuckling. "You've always liked Kelly!" 

"You even kissed her!" said Stretch. "Not once, but twice!" 

"Snow White, remember?" singsonged Felipe.

Manny was naturally peach, but this sudden shock made him even peachier. "What would everyone in town say if they knew?"

"That the best repairman and the girl who always has everything he needs are in love!" exclaimed Pat.

"All right, it was obvious to us that both of you had a thing for each other!" said Rusty.

"Thing, all right!" said Turner sarcastically. "Manny, I can't bear the distance between the two of you anymore. You have to tell her about your feelings sooner!"

Flicker, meanwhile, was jumping up and down and flashing his light.

"Flicker, cuidado!" said Manny, as he stretched out his hand to catch the flashlight. "You might get hurt!"

"Lo siento, Manny," said Flicker. "I became a bit ecstatic."

Just then, the bell chimed, and in walked Mrs Lopart. "Hello Manny, hello tools," she greeted.

"Buenos dias, Mrs Lopart," said Manny. "What can I do for you today?"

"Fluffy was running around the house and accidentally broke Leonard's photo frame," she said, handing over the object to him. "Can you fix it?"

"Sure, Mrs Lopart. The tools and I will have it fixed as good as new!"

"Oh, thank you Manny. I'll take your leave now."

After Mrs Lopart left, Manny and the tools quickly got to work. "We need a new frame glass, Manny," said Stretch. "14×16 inches."

"We need to go to Kelly's to get it. Come on tools!" 

"Manny, I have an idea," said Dusty. "Why don't you go alone and tell Kelly about your feelings?"

Manny liked the idea. But he was doubtful. "What if somebody witnesses it?"

"No te preocupes por eso! Everyone has to know at some point!" implored Felipe. "Everybody in town knows how good you both look together!"

After some persuasion, he agreed with the tools and set off. 

When he reached Kelly's store, he saw the girl struggling to arrange boxes. 

"Hola Kelly! Want a hand?" he said, preventing her from dropping a box.

"Oh, hi Manny. Sure!" she replied. 

He helped her arrange the boxes properly. 

"So, the tools are taking care of the shop," said Kelly. "What do you need today?"

Manny was too struck to speak. "You," he said dreamily.

"What?" said Kelly, giving him a deep look.

"Oh, sorry Kelly," said Manny sheepishly. "I need a photo frame glass, 14×16 inches. For Mr Lopart's frame."

"I'll be right back," she said, before disappearing behind a shelf.

Kelly's heart was dancing with joy. "Did he just say that he wanted me?"

But she controlled herself. She soon found the glass of the size he asked for.

"Here you go, Manny. Tell the tools that I said hi," she told him.

"Sure," Manny replied, in the same dreamy tone.

The way he went peachy aroused Kelly too much. She couldn't bear it any longer.

Just as Manny was about to leave, she stopped him.

"Manny, wait," she said.

"Yes, Kelly," said Manny, turning around to face her. 

She tiptoed up to him, and placed a small kiss on his forehead. "Be safe," she whispered before heading back to the counter. 

Immediately, there was a melee in Manny's nerves. He was struck. He couldn't back out anymore. But right now, he had to fix Mr Lopart's frame. 

"Bye Kelly!" he said, and directed a flying kiss at her, with a smile on his face.

Kelly was not in her senses now. She waved to him as he left, the desire completely over her mind now.

"I love you, Manny!"