Leaf of Faith

"Bang"

As thunder roar, a silhouette can be seen standing atop a building.

Terry, staring at his hands with only 9 fingers while standing on the edge of a 50 story building wearing tattered clothes.

Heavy rain pours, but like steel, he stood as straight as he can even though his body aches all over.

Terry recalled his conversation with a homeless old woman whom he stumbled upon jogging.

"Granny, do you have regrets in life?" He asks as he sits on a bench with the homeless granny.

"Kekeke, why do you ask questions like that young man? Did something happen?" the old granny asked.

"Sigh, a lot." Terry said dejectedly.

"Don't be like that young man, smile, even if the world crumbles always smile." the old granny said.

"Like hell I can smile, it's easy to say things like that but it's very hard to do. Granny, don't change the subject, you haven't answered my question yet." He smiled bitterly.

"Kekeke, young man, all I can say is that I don't, and I won't have any regrets in my life" She smiled and said confidently and with a pause, she said "You might be thinking 'You're homeless and old so you should have regret on why you end up like that' but all I can say is your way of thinking is wrong, well I think it's wrong in my own view"

Speechlessly, Terry felt awkward, especially when she mentioned what really on his mind. He just asked the question to comfort himself, not knowing that it would backfire. He smiles bitterly and said, "Well, that's one hell of a world view." He reaches his pocket attempting to get a cigarette but noticed that he doesn't have any, he sighs and said guiltily "Sorry Granny."

Granny smiled knowingly. She tried to comfort Terry by patting his shoulder.

She can see how troubled the young man she's talking with. She though 'Regrets?' Then she smiled and stood up. She points her hand at the famous Leaf Building - A 50 story high-end hotel at the center of the city. The look on her face was solemn like she's pointing at something 'holy'.

Terry was confused, 'what's with the building?' he thought.

Granny put down her hand and look at Terry then said "See that building?" then continued "Do you know about the legend surrounding that building? Do you know "Leaf of Faith"? Have you heard of it?"

A barrage of questions confused Terry. With a questioning look, he said "Don't have the time to listen to gossip or any urban legends. I have so many things to worry about. And what do you mean by "Leaf of Faith"? Isn't it "Leap of Faith"?" He answered and ask at the same time.

Granny ignored his inquiry and said, "Legend says that if you have a strong faith and leap at the top of the building your wish will be granted." She paused and chuckled "Well, all legend are stories to amuse people, some might believe but many would disregard these sort of 'Legend'". She abruptly turned around and walk off.

Terry, like a fool sitting on the bench, stared at the old granny's back as she fades in the sea of people. He mumbles to himself 'Leaf of Faith huh?' he stood up and continued with his jog.

....

As he recalls that moment, he suddenly heard 'Bang' three times. Gunshots could be heard, but like something normal, Terry ignores the sound. He reaches at his neck to feel the ring attached to the necklace made of ordinary thread. He smiled and thought 'Do you miss me? Just a little bit and I will be with you' he clutches the ring and kisses it gently like the most precious treasure in the world.

Another 'Bang' and the door at the rooftop suddenly opened. Swarm of police flooded out of the door and spread with guns pointed at Terry.

A police officer yelled "Little Nine, you can't run anymore, just surrender." He points his gun at the back of terry but afraid to come closer due to the man's notoriety. The police officers were about 5 meters from where terry stands, but regardless of their quantity, they didn't dare to move closer than that.

Upon hearing what the police said Terry chuckled. He looks at the vast city which he loved once more before turning around to face the police. He felt nostalgic when he heard the officer call him 'Little Nine'. Subconsciously he looked at his left hand, specifically his missing ring finger then chuckled once more. He mumbled "How long is it?" he questioned his memories for his missing finger.

"Raise your hands where I can see them." An officer yelled hesitantly. Other police officer gulped at the sight of their colleague yelling at Terry. They thought 'How bold! Do you know who you're yelling at?' they can only pray that the other party wouldn't be offended.

Seeing the reaction of the police officers, Terry can only awkwardly laugh and tell them "Relax, I don't bite."

A sigh of relief can be heard all around but in just a few moments, they almost peed their pants when the heard Terry followed up with "I just shoot". They were all frightened to the core because they know the capability of the man their facing.

Many police officers gripped their guns like they never gripped it before. Some were sweating bullets even in the midst of the heavy downpour.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Terry laugh carelessly and said "You all are too nervous, even though I don't know all of you, you all know me. You know my code, and you know that I never break them" he pauses then added with a mumble "But I guess I can break my code, can't I? I made them so I can remake them." He grinned evilly.

Even though he mumbled softly, some police with good hearing still heard what he said and almost fainted. They thought 'We don't even know what is real and what is a joke, just shut up and surrender peacefully.'

Like a western standoff, no one moves a muscle. The only difference is that the police were holding guns while Terry was barehanded.

"Knock it off Little Nine." A voice can be heard coming from the door. The police made way for the man to walk forward.

"Yo Scarface," Terry said.

The man almost stumbled on his tracks upon hearing Terry's voice. He stopped and took a deep breath before he continues to walk towards Terry. But like the other police, he stopped at the 5-meter distance just to be safe.

"Come on give me a hug! I miss you so much, my friend!" Terry motioned to the man sarcastically.

The man's face almost looks like a Chihuahua due to his scar and also his anger holding within. He pulled his gun and pointed at Terry, and with a deep breath, he pulled the trigger.

"Bang"

The man shot Terry at the knee busting his kneecap. Terry almost fell due to his damaged kneecap but swiftly shift his center of gravity to his other feet to prevent himself from falling. Standing as straight as ever, it looked like he won't bend whatever or whoever he faces.

Scarface waited for Terry to scream in agony but to his disappointment, Terry did the opposite and smiled at Scarface which dumfounded the later.

The police officers around can almost feel the pain of that busted kneecap, some almost scream like they were the one that's been shot.

"I know what you all think." Terry said and continued "You think that I'm amazing, that I can't feel pain, that I'm OP." He looks around at the faces of the police around "Well, you're all wrong, it hurts, it hurts like hell, do you all think that I'm on drugs? Do you all think that I can't feel the pain? I'm a human being as well, but unlike all of you, I don't have the time to curse or swear just because I am in pain, instead of complaining about the pain, I can use that time to accomplish other things." He smiled like nothing happened.

The police around were amazed upon hearing what he said.

Scarface, seething in anger points his gun once more then said "Let's end it all here, just surrender, I'm tired from all of these. I just want to rest at home and talk about life with my beautiful wife."

Terry upon hearing this can't help but remark "You have a beautiful wife? Who are you kidding? All men in the world can acquire a beautiful wife or two but not you, never!"

Hearing this, some police officer can't help but laugh, but suddenly remembered that Scarface was their superior. They can only laugh in their minds and tell themselves to control their laughter.

Scarface on the other hand felt another wave of anger, but he controlled it better and manage to not pull the trigger. With a deep breath, he said "I'm tired, You are tired, we're all tired." He sighs and added "Surrender, that's the only way." Then he turns around and walks towards the door.

Lost in thought Terry remembered something and looked up at the sky, he closed his eyes and said "Scarface, do you know the legend about this building? They said that if you have strong faith, your wish will be granted once you leap atop this building." He said the words Granny told him.

"Legend is only a Legend; it is made to amuse people." Scarface said while he walks toward the door.

Terry opened his eyes and look at the receding back of Scarface. It somewhat reminds him of Old Granny. He spread his arms like his surrendering all of himself to something. He smiles and mumbled, "I'll be with you soon." He suddenly leaned backward, letting the gravity pull him downward.

The police can't react with what just happen, they only snapped when someone screamed, reminding them to act but it's all too late.

Scarface, hearing the commotion turn back but noticed that Little Nine wasn't there anymore. With a grave face, he runs towards the edge of the building to take a look but the police prevented him from going into the edge due to the floor being slippery because of the rain.

"What a pity" he mumbled.

Terry, while in freefall, suddenly heard a voice said: "Do you have regrets?"

He subconsciously answered, "I do."

"Do you have faith?" asked the voice.

"I don't"

Then he fell unconscious.

...

Atop the Leaf building, in the heavy downpour, a legend end, or is it?