MY PERFECT BODYGUARD CHAPTER FIFTY ONE :EMBRACING MEMORIES

Richard has immersed himself in the large basin filled with a blend of herbs for nearly 8 hours. While he grapples with his memories, Doris and Hana engage in various activities to pass the time, alternating in their caretaking duties for Richard. They continue cooking as they keep a watchful eye on him.

In the realm of memory, Richard traverses back to a painful period when he faced bullying in school. Tasha, someone he once liked, plays a significant role in this recollection, ultimately leading to betrayal. Memories of a pivotal fight with Renly, which marked a turning point in his life, flood back, plunging him into a difficult and tumultuous phase.

As Richard's memories unfold, he begins to recall the warmth of a loving family that cared deeply for him. The journey through his past becomes a mix of joy and sorrow, with glimpses of the enjoyable moments he once experienced. Despite the emotional turbulence, his body remains tranquil in the water, allowing him to navigate the twists and turns of his memory lane.

In the backyard, Doris and Hana are engaged in cutting leaves while keeping a close eye on Richard. Breaking the silence, Doris raises a question.

"Do you think he hates us for lying to him?" she asks.

Hana responds, "I don't know. I just hope he hasn't developed any hatred towards us yet."

"Me too," Doris concurs. "One thing is for sure; once he regains his memories, he will definitely leave us."

Tears well up in Doris's eyes as she adds, "And I'm not ready for that."

"Hey, everything is going to be alright," Hana reassured Doris. "The panic he's experiencing is a result of losing his memories. Once he rediscovers them, he'll find peace within himself. You just need to be patient. I'm sure he has genuinely enjoyed your company so far," Hana said, offering comfort as she wiped away Doris's tears.

Meanwhile, in Richard's memory lane, he finds himself back in the bodyguard training days. Witnessing a intense fight with Mike, where Richard was almost killed, sparks a curiosity in him about how he and Mike became partners. The unfolding memories add another layer of intrigue to Richard's quest for his lost identity.

As Richard delved deeper into his memories, he began recalling his late father, mother, and Cynthia. The recollections continued until he reached a pivotal scene — the day Jim tasked him with saving Linda. Memories flooded in, depicting numerous missions with Linda and the revelation of Gloria's deception.

The pace of memories intensified, causing Richard to struggle in the water. Doris hurried to pull him away, and as he woke up, she embraced him from behind, disregarding the wetness. "I'm here, it's alright," she reassured him. After the panic subsided, Richard went to the bathroom for a bath, deep in thought. Various thoughts occupied his mind, and he remained silent, prompting neither Hana nor Doris to press him with questions until he was ready to share.

After supper, Richard found himself outside, gazing at the night sky, when Doris approached.

"Can I join you?" she asked.

Richard nodded, and as they shared the open air of the village, he remarked, "The air here feels more natural, healthy, and organic. It could make a skin glow like that of an angel." He then turned his gaze towards Doris and complimented her, "No wonder you have wonderful skin."

Doris blushed and smiled, replying with gratitude, "Thanks. It's really a nice place. I hope I will always welcomed every time I come."

"Of course, you can. You're always and forever welcomed," Doris assured him.

"Thanks, Doris," Richard said, expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome.

"I'm sorry for being mad at you earlier. I just felt lost and disabled. I felt like I was leaving, but I didn't know the reason why, and it was driving me crazy and frustrated," Richard apologized, opening up about the inner turmoil he had been experiencing.

"It wasn't your fault, Richy," Doris comforted. "Like you said, you felt lost. Still, I couldn't have acted like a jerk. You know, I thought that maybe the life I had before I lost my memories was a normal life — eat, go to school, go to part-time work, come back, do my homework, eat, play football, and stuff. But what I saw, it was far from it. My life was never normal. And you were right, leaving here is way better than going back to the city," Richard expressed, sharing his realization with Doris.

"Richy, what I said was because I wanted you to stay. I was in love with you. You know, one thing you should know is that no one has a normal life. Maybe something you think is not normal for you might actually be normal for another person. There is this woman who lives at the river banks; she gave birth to five children, and all were imbeciles. I don't know what kind of life you had, but I'm pretty sure it's not as worst as hers," Doris explained, offering a perspective that made Richard reflect on his own experiences.

"You're right, but it's not in that perspective. I've been busy fighting someone's war without getting anything in return. The only thing I got in return was an insult. But you know, I kept on doing it, not just because I like keeping people safe or because I liked being a bodyguard. Everything I did was because I was in love with her, and I got lost. I forgot my place so easily," Richard confessed, shedding tears.

"And look at me now, I'm here, far away from the only people that appreciate me—my family, my mom, and my sister Cynthia," he added, expressing the emotional toll of his past choices.

Doris, noticing Richard's tears, immediately embraced him in a warm hug. They held onto each other for a moment, and when they broke apart, there was an emotional connection between them. Richard brought his head closer, and Doris did the same, leading to a warm and tender kiss that spoke volumes about the emotions shared between them in that moment.