Early spring, 1xxx.

I was heading toward a stream in the forest. On the way, I spotted something small and black.

That was our first meeting, and our beginning.

At the sound of my presence, the little creature's ears flickered, and as he slowly opened his eyes, I saw eyes as green as the lush forest.

The little one just stared at me with those eyes. I wondered if he found me strange.

Was it because of those forest-green eyes that kept drawing me in? No, perhaps it was simply meant to be.

The little one wasn't afraid of me, nor did he run away. ...Did you feel something from me too?

He didn't reject my touch either. He just stared at me intently. And so, I carried him down the mountain in my arms, and we became a family living together.

I gave you the name Heukwol (黑菀). Because you looked so black when I first saw you, 'Heuk' (黑) for black. Because we first met in a forest thick with grass and trees, 'Wol' (菀) for lush vegetation.

Whether time flew by or Heukwol grew exceptionally fast—

...or perhaps he grew so much because he was fed with all the affection I gave him, Heukwol matured quickly.

Living together, I came to know many things about him. The most memorable thing was that Heukwol loved flowers.

Before I knew it, the tiny tiger cub was gone, replaced by a dignified and fine adult tiger.

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| Diary | Year 1xxx | Month xx | Day xx | 🌒 |

...I still remember. My first meeting with this human.
Normally, I would have run away the moment I woke up... 
Even if I could go back to that time, I would make the same choice.

...I just felt something inexplicable from this human. I was drawn to that unknown something.

...It was warm. I had lost my way from where I used to live, leaving aimless footprints behind. But now, when I opened my eyes, I was in this human's house, and sometimes, in this human's arms.

This human gave me a name and filled me with affection.

...Was that the problem? My heart started to get a little noisy, and my feelings began to turn strange. At first, your smiling face kept lingering in my head. And after that, the desire to keep seeing that smile burned within me.

Then I realized. ...Ah, I am in love with this human.

...And finally. This much I can say for certain.

It's not that I like flowers,

it's that I like you, who resembles a flower.