When Mingyu was a young boy, he already noticed that his family wasn't fond of him. He received physical abuse from his father, and his mother who was the witness of her husband's crime had a disgusting look for her own son. His siblings treated him like an outsider or someone who they didn't care even if he dies by the hands of their father. Until one night, he found out that he is actually the son of the man who raped his mom.

  'So that's it. That's why they hate me.'

  In such a young age, Mingyu had to face the cruel reality of his life. He felt unfair that a kid who  has nothing to do with a crime that happened when he's out of the world, had to suffer. And so... he ran away from home.

  "There's a bubble on your face" I chuckled then wiped the bubble of dishwashing liquid on his handsome face.

  Now, Mingyu is a grown up man. He accomplished a lot by his own ability, becoming one of the leading businessman in the world. If a perfect man does exists, I could say it is him.

  "You're seducing me, weren't you?" He teased, putting bubbles on the tip of my nose.

  Blushing so hard, I denied, "I did not!"

  "Eyyy~ Your expression tells it all."

  "Stop teasing me and let's f-finish washing the dishes."

  "It was you who started to play like a kid."

  "..."

  "To seduce me."

  "Hey!"

  If there is one thing that he didn't get, it's 'long life.'

  "This apple isn't sweet," he complained while we are sitting at the sofa.

  "Then you should come with me to buy, Mr. Perfectionist," I pouted.

  "But I'm busy. You should already know how to pick sweet apples. What will your future husband says if..." He stopped for a moment and continued with a laugh. "Ahhh. I forgot that I am your husband."

  I took a bite on my apple and laughed with him.

  It's been a year since I became his wife. However, instead of playing the wife role, I choose to be a family he could lean on. It started when I heard his story then I asked him to give me a chance to make him feel what does it mean to have a family. 

At first, he declined my offer. But as time passed by, it was too late for him to realize that he already opened his heart for me.

We spent more time together: playing, teasing, going out, cooking and talking.

  Then secretly, I fell in love. I can hide my feelings very well so I am confident that it'll remain a secret.

  "After I died, you have to marry the person you will love. Okay?" He suddenly said out of nowhere.

  Whenever he brought this topic, I found myself looking down and preventing tears to fall. I wanted to stay strong, for that he might have the will to fight. But every now and then, I can't imagine myself living in this huge house when he is gone.

  "You're young and pretty. I'm sure, many guys will like you. To be honest, I approached you at the mall because you're cute."

  I stayed quiet then ate my apple which I couldn't swallow.

  "Ahh, I heard that you were contacted by my family. What did they say?"

  "They were asking if you are okay," I murmured undertone.

  "Tsss. They must be jumping up and down if they found out about my illness. Good thing I finished transferring everything under your name." Mingyu put down his apple and looked at me. "Hey. Even if they are begging for a single penny, don't give them a damn. Okay?"

  Of course, Mingyu still hates his family. His wounds are too deep it won't heal even if he must.

  "Mingyu."

  "Hmmm?"

  "I won't ask you to forgive your family. But..." I met his gaze. "Are you happy? To be with me?"

  His crumpled face has relaxed, brows straightened and hanged his lips a little bit opened. He leaned his back on the sofa and avoided my eyes.

  "When you asked me to be your family, I was scared. Because my impression to it was a nightmare. Until now, I still haven't find the answer: of what it means to be a family. But one thing is for sure." He faced me. I felt his hands cupped my face, sharing the warmth of his palms. "I was happy to be with you. I am happy to be with you. And I will be happy to go while thinking of you."

  My world turned into a blur, and so did all the sounds. The smell. The taste. Everything was gone. I paused trying to hold back these feelings rumbling inside my I couldn't. A lone tear traced down my cheek, and just like that, the floodgates opened. My chin trembled like a small kid. I breathed heavier than before, as if it will change the situation; as if by the sheer force of my grief, his future death won't happen.

  But no matter how much I cried, nothing will change. He'll left us. He will left me.

  "Can't you just stay? Until you find the real meaning of Family? Please stay," I sobbed, like a beg; holding his arms tightly.

  Mingyu just stared at me with that beam, a smile that might visit my future dreams.

  "I..." I bowed my head. My shoulders moved up and down.

  I never plan to tell my secret. But staring at him, I'm afraid I'll regret hiding this for the rest of my life. I will. I will.

  "I love you!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Then everything went black. My sobs stopped. As I slightly opened my eyes, my lips also did.

  He's kissing me.

  He was kissing me while crying.

  The day of his operation has arrived. After waiting for so long, we received positive news from the hospital that there is a heart donor for Mingyu at last. We were excited and scared at the same time because this operation won't guarantee his life.

  "As you can see, more of your heart valves don't work properly anymore," the doctor explained. "Even if the surgery went well, we can't guarantee your safety. But if you delayed the transplant..." He stopped for a moment and sighed. "He has at least a week to live."

  While holding my hand tightly, Mingyu answered. "I'll get the transplant."

  Today, my mind was all blank. All I wish was to send him at the surgery room with a smile, and to welcome him out with the same smile I had at the beginning.

  Everything will be okay.

  Everything will be okay.

  "You look more nervous than me," he chuckled while wearing his patient gown. He held my hand, then smiled. "Come here."

  "Huh?"

  He sent me a hand gesture for me to lean down. So I bent and put my ear near to his lips.

  "I love you too."

  By the time he released my hand, Mingyu were brought inside the operating room.

I knew it. I knew he loves me. But if he confessed at me before he went inside the operating room like this, isn't it such a torture?

Yes it was.

  Every second of waiting feels like a year; as if I've been waiting for rain in drought season.

I cried a lot until my eyes were dried. Then, when the automatic door has opened, my mom hugged me as I tried to breath out. 

  "W-What happened? He's okay right? Everything is fine, right?" I asked, biting my lower lip to keep another tears from falling down.

No. Don't cry. If I'll cry again, then that means...

"I'm sorry," the doctor said.

"..."

  "There's a little problem on the other side. The family of the person who donated his heart is opposing the transplant. It seems there was a miscommunication."

  "What?!" I shouted.

This is it. This is how I failed on becoming strong. My tears ran down on my cheeks once again. Then I begged, "We can still wait, right? Right?!"

  As the doctor looked down and sighed, the anxiousness I have reached it limit.

"You said that you will save him!" I shouted, grabbing his collar and crying like a madman. "Why did you let this happen? Why?!"

  "We will do our best to convince the family of the donator." The doctor removed my hands from his collar and  turned around.

  If Mingyu had to wait during this operation... he won't make it.

Can I really go on without him? No. I can't.

  "I'll donor my heart!"

  Mom held me tight, crying so loud as much as I do.

  "If the heart donor won't arrive, I'll donate mine," I said.

  In the end, the heart donor didn't arrive. And I... decided to give my everything.

  When I got shot with anesthesia, I suddenly remembered that afternoon. The day when he said that he still doesn't know the real meaning of FAMILY. Well, I wish I can talk to him right now. Because if I can, I'll tell him:

  "This is what a family is. A family is someone who is willing to give up his life just for you."

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  I'm still alive. I'm still breathing. How?

  Is it possible to stay alive even if my heart was taken?

  Mom is crying at the side. I looked at her with my heavy eyes. "M-Mom," I called.

  "Oh my gosh! My baby!" She held me, sobbing.

  "Mingyu," I murmured. "Why? My heart... I said I will give it to him. Why am I still alive?"

  Mom couldn't reply. She just kept on crying and crying.

  I took a glimpsed to Mingyu's doctor who is standing beside us.

  "Doctor," I uttered. "Mingyu. What happened? Why am I still...Why?"

  "Mingyu regained consciousness," Doctor replied. "He heard that you are willing to donate your heart. And so, he didn't accept it."

  "..."

  "He could not accept it, he said."

  "W-Why?"

  "Because he is your husband. And he also said that he would rather die, because that's the real meaning of being your family."

  I told him to stay here until he found the meaning. He really did. Before he left, he got to know the answer.

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  5 years have passed.

   I am sitting at the garden and watching the sunset. Then, my husband sat beside me after he put the plate of slice apples on the table.

  Mingyu told me before, that after he died, I can marry someone I'll love in the future. I never forget that wish of his.

  "The apple is so sweet," I commented.

  "Of course, it was me who bought it," Mingyu replied.

  I didn't get married for the second time. Why would I? When Mingyu is still here on my side. He will be here as the person who saved me, as my husband, as my friend and as my family. And I will stay with him, not only as BENEFICIARY.

The end.

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   A/n: yes. Mingyu survived the surgery. The heart donor for him arrived before they could get (Y/n)'s heart. Mingyu's back story was too sad and author doesn't want to end this with a sadder scene. I hope you enjoyed it!

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(BUT that means (Y/n) still didn't inherit his money. Well, being Mingyu's wife is a treasure itself. Let's cry together if you agree!)