Eric in his advanced home office, but the atmosphere is heavy. His friends, Liam and Chloe, arrive, already worried.
Liam stepped into Eric's dedicated research room, the polished wooden desk and three-monitor setup a stark contrast to Eric's slumped posture. "Hey, man". The front door was open. "We heard the news about the partner pairing."
Chloe put a hand on Eric's shoulder, noticing the exhaustion etched around his eyes. "We saw the email. Eric, you look like you just lost a court battle. We're talking about Jasper, aren't we?"
Eric sighed, pushing his chair back. "Yeah, it's Jasper. It's that Level 2 disaster all over again." His voice was low, filled with disappointment. "It wasn't just a bad grade; it was a total professional failure. We had two fundamentally different ideas of what the project should be. He thought my approach was too safe; I thought his was reckless. We spent more time fighting for control than actually coding."
He ran a hand through his hair. "And this current project, this is the one. For the university, for our final transcripts...I'm terrified I'm going to watch everything collapse just because we can't be in the same room without a conflict."
Liam leaned against the desk. "Look, Eric, that was Level 2. You've both matured a little since then, right? Probably not much, but a little." He offered a small, needed laugh. "This time, the stakes are too high to let pride get in the way."
Chloe squeezed his shoulder again, her tone gentle but firm. "He's still a genius, Eric. A difficult genius, but one of the best. You both need this win. You have to find a way to make it work. You don't have to like him; you just have to tolerate him long enough to deliver a perfect project. Focus on the shared success, not the personal tension."
Eric : "He doesn't just disagree, he dismisses you. Last time, when I tried to show him my risk assessment, he actually laughed. That's what scares me—the lack of respect."
Laim : "I remember that. That Level 2 project was brilliant, technically. It just had zero practical application because you two couldn't agree on the 'why.'"
Eric: "Exactly! And this time, it's not just a pass/fail. This ties into the University's innovation grant. If we botch this, it's a stain on both of us, but I'm the one who did all the early research here!"
Chole: "Look, you know his flaw. He's an unstoppable force, right? So, this time, be the immovable object. Set boundaries now. You don't have to be his friend, Eric, you have to be his co-pilot."
Laim : "You're a brilliant coder, Eric. Your methodical approach is the anchor that project needs. Jasper can supply the engine, but you navigate. Just breathe, and remember your job is to keep his genius from becoming your catastrophe."
Eric: (A slow nod) "...Okay. Co-pilot. Tolerate him to the finish line. I can do that. Maybe."