Chapter 6: The Possessive War

The quiet night on the streets felt like a gift after Budi left Teddy’s laboratory. The neutral scent enveloping his body was a blessing, as if all the madness that had befallen him today was merely a nightmare that vanished upon waking. Budi quickened his pace, eager to reach his apartment, lock himself in, and forget all the hungry gazes that had chased him. He even managed a small smile, feeling a relief he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

However, when he arrived at the lobby of his apartment building, that smile instantly disappeared. Loud thuds and angry shouts greeted him. In the middle of the now chaotic lobby, amidst broken flower pots and an overturned receptionist chair, Rocky and Daniel were exchanging blows. Rocky wore track pants and a sleeveless shirt soaked with sweat, while Daniel was still in his expensive suit, which was now slightly torn at the sleeves. Both their faces were flushed red, their eyes glowing with equal intensity.

“Hey, you bastard! What are you doing here?! This is Budi’s apartment! Don’t you dare come to my territory!” Rocky screamed, landing a hard punch on Daniel’s face.

Daniel staggered but quickly retaliated. “I warned you, butcher! Budi belongs to me! You’re just a lump of stupid muscle who doesn’t know how to appreciate anything!”

“What do you mean ‘appreciate’?! You just want to make him your experiment subject, right?!” Rocky slammed Daniel into the lobby wall, causing Daniel to groan in pain.

Daniel struggled to get up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Budi is something... special. I will protect him, unlike you who only knows how to devour!”

Budi, standing frozen at the entrance of the lobby, swallowed hard. The sweet aroma from his body had indeed subsided, but the tension between the two men peaked instead, as if his body were a trophy to be seized. Budi’s heart pounded rapidly watching the two alpha males attack each other fiercely in public.

“Damn it, what am I supposed to do?” Budi whispered in panic.

He tried to sneak in from the side, hoping not to be seen. Budi hurriedly pressed the elevator button, and when the doors opened, he stepped inside immediately, hoping to reach his room safely. However, as the elevator doors slowly closed, he heard Rocky scream.

“Budi! Are you running away again?! Come here, you prick!”

The elevator doors opened again, and Daniel swiftly grabbed Budi’s hand, dragging him out. Rocky immediately lunged at Daniel, separating them.

“Don’t touch him, Daniel! Have you forgotten what I told you?!” Rocky pushed Daniel until he fell to the ground.

“Budi! Are you okay?” Daniel got up, looking at Budi with a shifting gaze, changing from anger to pure desire.

“Crazy! What is wrong with both of you?! Stop! It’s embarrassing for people to see!” Budi shouted, his voice trembling slightly from fear.

But instead of stopping, both men froze. Their gazes, previously filled with rage, transformed into intoxicating hunger. Their nostrils flared, like tracking dogs that had just found their prey.

“Your voice... Budi... Damn it, it makes me want it so badly,” Daniel whispered, his eyes fixed on Budi’s lips.

Rocky growled lowly, circling around Budi. “Don’t listen to this scumbag, Bud. You know I’m the one who needs you most. Only I know how to make you comfortable.”

“Comfortable how?! You want to eat me, right?!” Budi took a step back, but Daniel and Rocky were now surrounding him, creating a suffocating circle of possession.

“Your aroma... why does it get stronger when you scream?” Daniel stepped closer, his finger reaching for Budi’s chin, lifting it so their eyes met. “You are a temptation, Budi. A temptation I cannot resist.”

“Don’t touch him, dog!” Rocky lunged at Daniel again, but this time more controlled. He no longer punched but pulled Daniel away from Budi with a strong grip. “Don’t think you can just take Budi like that! He promised me!”

“Promised? Don’t be ridiculous. That was just a lie so he could run from you,” Daniel brushed off Rocky’s hand, his eyes still locked on Budi.

Budi felt squeezed tight. The two men, who had previously hated each other, seemed united in their obsession with him. Guilt haunted him. He knew this was all his fault, because of that strange snail, because of the cursed aroma that was now making two grown men lose their minds.

“Sir, Sir! What is going on here?! Why cause a disturbance in the lobby?!”

A hoarse voice interrupted. The building security officer, a stout middle-aged man, ran toward them. His face showed deep irritation.

“Gentlemen, please respect the building facilities! If you want to fight, don’t do it here!” the guard barked, trying to break them up.

Rocky huffed in annoyance. “None of your business, Sir. This is personal!”

“How is it personal, Sir? You’ve already damaged property! Now I demand you both leave!” the guard pointed toward the exit.

Daniel stared sharply at the guard, his expression turning cold and threatening again. “You have no idea who you are dealing with, Old Man.”

“I don’t care who you are, if you cause trouble here, I can report you to the police!” the guard threatened.

Rocky and Daniel exchanged glances, then looked back at Budi, who now appeared relieved. They knew this wasn’t the right time.

“Okay, I’m leaving. But remember, Budi,” Rocky glanced at Daniel with a triumphant smirk. “Tomorrow you must come to my gym. I don’t like stale sweet promises. Don’t forget to bring that fragrant self of yours.” He touched Budi’s cheek with the tip of his finger, then tossed a business card containing his phone number and gym address.

Daniel looked at Budi with a piercing, possessive gaze. “And you, Budi. I will send a car to pick you up tomorrow morning. Do not try to refuse, or I will come myself and drag you out of this apartment.” Daniel threw a luxurious company business card near Budi’s feet. “Choose wisely, Budi. Between me or that rogue.”

Both men finally turned around, leaving the lobby with threatening stares at each other and identical smirks of satisfaction on their faces. Budi could only stand silent, his body trembling. He knew this wasn’t over. This was just the beginning of a dangerous game that somehow had drawn him in. In his hand, Rocky’s business card felt hot, while at his feet, Daniel’s card seemed to call to him with equally terrifying promises and threats.