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Chapter 6.5

"Aren't you too masculine to be this crafty?"

"HAHA! Weirdo!"

"What a creep…"

"His actions does not suits him"

"Is he... a he?"

*meow* *meow* *meow*

Staaaaaaaar, let me have 5 more minutes.

*meow* *meow* *meow*

What time is it? It's 6 am already, I did not sleep well last night. I'm gonna smash that Karaoke someday. Anyway, It's time to record..

*Puts a camera in front of himself*

Hi, I am Keya Powell, 45 years old and I'm a craft artist. Surprising right? You probably thought that I'm a bodybuilder, a construction worker, or perhaps a Pro wrestler at first glance but no, I am indeed a craft artist.

Creating miniature figures is my best asset! It can be wooden, metals, or even origami. No matter what the material is, I can create something out of it! Though it does not stop there. I'm also an inventor! I am knowledgeable in electronics and in welding. Combining all of those gives me the title Mr. Creator… Pretty cool right?

Though it's the only title that I have. Back in the days, my classmates used to call me Dr. Porkchop. That's basically the summary of my physical appearance. I mean I was a big fat nerdy type of kid. Calling me Dr. Porkchop is pretty much accurate, though it hurts… a lot.

*cough cough*

Sorry about that, you might hear me cough more the rest of this video so please bear with me.

So as I was saying, I never had a normal elementary life because I'm being bullied due to my outside looks. By the time I reached highschool, it got worse. They literally embarrassed me in front of everyone multiple times. Drenching me in water while I'm on the toilet, putting food in my locker, and there's a time that while we are taking a shower after our Physical Education, they stole my clothes and hid it. I just waited there until everyone left the school. I walked naked in the hall until a janitor saw me, he gave me his spare uniform.

*meow* *meow* *meow*

Wait I'll be right back, Starbutt is asking for food.

Hi again, where was I… Oh yeah that day… Embarrassing right? I'll never forget that moment. I can still perfectly remember it like it was yesterday even though I am already 45 HAHA! Though that was only for the first year of my highschool. That day I swore that I'll be a better version of myself, so I won't be bullied. I endured their bullying while I trained myself everyday, gonna remove those fats immediately!

In our Sophomore year, they all seem to change. People started to actually like me, including girls. I was the hot stuff back then, I guess those fats were my flaws. I was finally able to focus on studying, crafting, and learning new things coz I'm not getting bullied anymore. Things were finally going my way that's why I kept building those muscles that time. But that also did not last too long.

*cough cough*

The following year they all began to be distant again. That was the time they crowned me a new title, Goliath. It's true that I am way taller compared to those at my age, adding those muscles... Maybe being too beefy is not a good thing. There was a time that I looked in the mirror and asked myself "why is there a monster here?". Teenage years are hard, questioning my existence in those years. I remember that was the time I started smoking and drinking alcohol. My parents are both too busy with their work at that time, that's why I can do whatever I want.

I guess that summarizes my junior years in high school. I transferred to a different school in my senior year due to my parents' work. I thought that it could be a fresh new start, embracing the real me. I studied, worked-out, created new stuff, and surprisingly, it all went well. I guess there's no bullies at this point…

Despite excelling in academics, that was the first time someone asked me this question "Aren't you too masculine to be this crafty?". It did not bother me that time, I just laughed and jokingly answered "At least I won't be bullied". We all laughed that time but I gonna admit, it did sting a little bit.

I graduated from senior high school and finally enrolled in college. I was able to be part of the Dean's Lister in my first year. Whenever I feel stressed, I just usually take a cigarette, sometimes eat with beer as drinks. Being a college student pushed me to embrace this hobby. I continued doing my best in my field but I always encounter that specific question whatever class I attend. It's like I will inevitably catch everyone's attention that will lead to that question. That time it started to bother me like crazy. It's like being this way is not normal, I am not normal.

By the time I moved out of my parents' house, I also stopped attending my university. I remember my mother persistently calling, asking why I stopped attending but I never gave her an answer. They never knew my struggles in the first place so I did not bother explaining my situation that time.

*cough cough*

I know that sounded crazy, a lame and stupid decision, but I stood by it. I accepted that I'm never gonna fit in this society. That's why I decided to loan at the bank! Of course with the help of my father, and then I started my own shop! I'm selling numerous things like furniture, miniatures, figurines, basically all things that a man can make! For the first time, it feels like I found my place, just being me, free… I even made Starbutt his very own automated bedroom! The curtains close whenever he is inside the cage. Oh by the way, I haven't introduced you to my beloved pet.

*Keya Grabbed the cat and showed it to the camera*

This is my buddy! His name is Starbutt, well he has this weird pattern on his butt that looks like a star, that's why I call him Starbutt HAHA! At first he stayed at my shop everytime I opened it. He visits me everyday and after maybe a week, I finally let him inside of my house, as my companion!

*Starbutt goes down*

Living in this neighborhood does not change the way society treats me. Sure, there are still some friendly buyers, dealers, and suppliers. I know I said that I already found my place, I am legitimately happy when I craft things. But every time I go to the market, I've been hearing some rumors about me. A big muscle man with glasses is not normal in the human eyes, plus the fact that they know I'm the one who crafts those items makes it weirder for them. Maybe I was wrong when I said that I found my place...

It's like I'm a celebrity but without the fame and glamour, only rumors and nasty things about me. They know that I'm living alone in my shop, and they are spreading rumors about how weird I am. I also never escaped that one question. Every time I go somewhere, someone will definitely ask "Aren't you too masculine to be this crafty?". I frequently hear that, especially from the ones that I order raw materials from. If it's a new delivery man, heading to my shop, I'm pretty sure he or she will ask me that question when they realize I'm the creator of those crafts. Because of that, I never had a friend. Just living here with Starbutt.

*Keya coughs and a blood was seen on his hand*

I'm sorry you have to see this, I'll be right back, just gonna wash my hands and get some towels.

*indefinite video pause*

I'm back again, Now why am I recording all of this? I feel like all this time, I never had a chance to tell someone the way I feel, basically about my life. And I probably won't have enough time to do so. One time I collapsed in broad daylight while buying at the market. When I woke up, I was in the hospital and they already run full diagnostics since I have my medcard. I thought those coughs were normal, the tiredness was due to my age, but it turns out I have lung cancer. I ignored all of the previous signs because I'm used to pain but that is not a good idea. Due to my stubbornness, it's already stage 4. The doctor said that my survivability rate was raging from 7-25%, depending on how my body will react to medication.

After the discussion, I bought the prescribed medicine that can stop the pain but I never undergo further medication. I just don't want to suffer more in my remaining days. Both of my parents are already dead, I don't have brothers so in terms of relatives, I have none. Statistically, it's not worth fighting for. I mean with that survivability rate, why would I make things harder for me? It's not worth living anyway… aaaaand now I'm sitting here in front of the camera, telling my story HAHA! This might probably be more efficient than finding a friend to talk with. I do hope that someone will find this camera and play this video...

*The video is awkwardly cut after the last line*

"Just wondering, has anyone asked you, aren't you too masculine to be this crafty?" Hikari asked.

"HAHA! Believe me, I've heard that a thousand times, in fact I'm immune to that question." Kyap responded.

"I did not mean anything bad about it, I just wonder how you respond to that question since I've heard some people saying those" Hikari explained.

"It's fine, in fact I think this is literally who I am. Others said that I should be on a more physical type of job. I was born to be this big and I also do hard chores like building ships, I guess that explains my muscles. I don't regret being this masculine since it helps my daily life, I also don't regret being this crafty since I'm living in a town where they love to innovate, and most importantly I don't regret being both since this is who I am and people here accept me as I am. Craftiness and masculinity are not 2 polar opposites, you can be crafty without affecting your masculinity" Kyap clarified.