Chapter 6 – My Friends Meet Each Other
Leo entered the apartment and stopped in the living room. He looked at the garden chairs lined up with precision and the small television sitting in the corner. He took a deep breath and decided it was time to speak.
"Sheldon, we need to review the furniture," he said calmly.
Sheldon looked up from his whiteboard. "Review? Everything is perfectly ordered."
"Ordered, yes," Leo replied, "but incomplete. We need a real sofa. These chairs aren't comfortable. And we also need a better television. I'll pay for it."
Sheldon raised an eyebrow. "A sofa disrupts the symmetry of the space. And the current television works. Why spend more?"
"Because comfort matters too," Leo countered. "We can get a sofa that fits the exact size of the room. And a larger television will let us enjoy movie nights or video games much more. It's not an expense—it's an investment in living together."
Sheldon looked at him incredulously. "Investment in living together? That sounds suspiciously emotional."
Leo smiled. "It is. But it's also practical. Do you really want your colleagues sitting in garden chairs while we discuss theoretical physics? Or watching documentaries on a tiny screen?"
Sheldon opened his mouth to reply, but stayed silent. Finally, he sighed. "Fine… but I choose the color of the sofa."
"Deal." Leo answered firmly. "And I'll pay for the television."
---
The next day, they walked through the aisles of a furniture store. Sheldon carried a notebook with exact measurements of the apartment, while Leo calmly examined the sofa models.
"This one has good proportions," Leo said, pointing to a dark gray sofa. "Comfortable, elegant, and it doesn't break the symmetry."
Sheldon measured with his tape. "It fits… though I'd prefer a more neutral tone."
"We can choose light gray," Leo suggested. "That way we keep your chromatic harmony."
Sheldon nodded slowly. "Acceptable."
Then they moved to the electronics section. Leo stopped in front of a wide-screen television. "This is perfect. High definition, great sound. I'll pay for it."
Sheldon studied it carefully. "Too big. It could dominate the room."
"Exactly," Leo said with a smile. "It'll be the center of our movie nights and video games. And it'll serve for your scientific documentaries too."
Sheldon thought for a few seconds and finally agreed. "Fine… but I decide where to place it."
"Perfect." Leo extended his hand. "Then we have a deal."
Sheldon shook it solemnly. "A new sofa and a new television. This apartment is beginning to evolve."
Leo smiled. "Because now it's not just your sanctuary. It's our home."
---
The sofa arrived on Saturday morning. Two workers carefully placed it in the middle of the living room, still wrapped in protective plastic. Sheldon stood with his notebook in hand, supervising like a scientific operation. Leo, on the other hand, watched calmly, enjoying the moment of transformation.
"First we need to remove the garden chairs," Leo said, picking one up and carrying it to the bedroom. "They've served their purpose."
Sheldon frowned. "They were perfectly aligned. They had symmetry."
"Yes," Leo replied, "but they weren't comfortable. This sofa will be better for everyone."
When the last chairs were gone, the room was empty for a moment. Sheldon looked at the space as if it were a chessboard. "The sofa must be placed exactly parallel to the television. If it's off by more than three degrees, the visual experience will be compromised."
Leo chuckled. "Then let's test it."
He removed the plastic and pushed the sofa to the center. Sheldon pulled out his tape measure and checked the distance from the wall to each end. "Too close to the window. Natural light could reflect on the screen."
They moved it a few inches. Sheldon measured again. "Now it's too close to the door. The entry flow is interrupted."
Leo sighed, amused. "Sheldon, we're not designing a particle accelerator. It's a sofa."
"A sofa," Sheldon replied seriously, "is a social reference point. Its location defines the dynamics of the room."
Leo let him continue. They moved the sofa several times, Sheldon measuring, adjusting, writing in his notebook. Finally, they placed it in front of the television, with enough space to walk around. Sheldon stood silently, observing.
"This is the spot," he said at last, solemnly. "Perfectly centered. Symmetry maintained. Viewing angle optimal."
Leo dropped onto the sofa, testing the comfort. "Perfect for me too."
Sheldon looked at him with curiosity. "And the television?"
Leo stood and together they unpacked the new TV. He placed it on the stand, but Sheldon immediately raised his hand. "No. Too low. The line of sight must be at exact eye level when seated."
They found a taller stand and adjusted the position. Sheldon spoke again. "Now it's too tilted. We need to correct the angle."
Leo adjusted until Sheldon nodded. "Perfect. The television dominates the room, but doesn't unbalance it. The sofa and screen form a central axis. The movie experience will be optimal."
Leo leaned back, satisfied. "Then we've defined our place."
Sheldon sat beside him, stiff at first, then slowly relaxing. "I must admit… it's comfortable."
Leo smiled. "I knew it. Now the room isn't just orderly—it's livable."
Sheldon looked around, as if seeing his sanctuary transformed. "This apartment… is beginning to evolve."
Leo nodded. "Because now it's not just your space. It's our home."
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. It was recognition that beyond measurements and angles, they had achieved something more important: balance between order and comfort, between theory and living.
---
The new sofa and television were ready, as if waiting for their first real test. Leo had prepared the console and extra controllers, knowing that Howard and Raj would come over that night.
The door opened energetically. Howard entered carrying a pizza box and a couple of sodas, while Raj followed with a shy smile. "Ready for video game night!" Howard announced, raising the pizza like a trophy.
Leo greeted them calmly. "Welcome. Come in, make yourselves comfortable."
At that moment, Sheldon came out of his room. He wore a retro *Super Mario Bros.* T-shirt and looked at them seriously. He stopped in the living room, observing the newcomers as if they were intruders.
"Leo," he said in a measured tone, "who are these people?"
Leo replied evenly. "They're Howard and Raj, my friends. They came to play video games."
Sheldon frowned. "Video games aren't the problem. I've played them since I was eight. The problem is that they're strangers in my living space."
Howard raised his hand in a casual greeting. "Nice to meet you. I promise not to disturb your… living space."
Raj stepped forward timidly. "Hi. We just want to have fun."
Leo approached Sheldon and spoke calmly. "Don't worry. They're good people. Besides, the sofa and television are here for this. Let's test them properly."
Sheldon looked at them for a few more seconds, then sighed. "Fine. But I choose the first game."
Leo smiled. "Deal."
He settled into the sofa. Howard and Raj sat down with the pizza and sodas, while Sheldon picked up a controller with the ease of someone who had done it all his life. Leo powered up the console, and the *Gears of War* menu appeared on the screen.
"Perfect," said Sheldon. "A classic. Strategy, coordination, and a combat system that, while basically improbable, is entertaining."
Howard laughed. "I didn't expect you to be a gamer."
Sheldon looked at him seriously. "I've played since childhood. *Super Mario*, *Zelda*, *GoldenEye*. Video games are a legitimate form of entertainment. What I don't enjoy is sharing them with strangers… but I suppose tonight will be an exception."
Leo mediated. "Think of it as a social experiment. If it works, we'll have more nights like this."
Sheldon nodded slowly. "I accept the hypothesis."
The match began. Howard threw himself in with enthusiasm, Raj tried to keep up, and Sheldon played with surgical precision, analyzing every map and every move. Leo, more relaxed, enjoyed watching the dynamic take shape.
"Victory!" Howard shouted after defeating Raj in a round.
Raj protested. "That's not fair, you were hiding."
Sheldon, without taking his eyes off the screen, commented: "Strategically speaking, Howard applied an ambush method. Effective, though not very honorable."
Leo laughed. "In video games, that's called strategy."
The night went on with laughter, pizza, and matches. Sheldon, though uncomfortable at first, ended up fully involved. His observations became part of the game, and his skill surprised Howard and Raj.
"I must admit," Sheldon said at the end of a round, "playing with strangers isn't as unpleasant as I expected. As long as they respect the basic rules of coexistence."
Leo looked at him with satisfaction. "That's what I wanted. For this place to be not just an apartment, but a space to share."
Howard raised his glass. "Then let's toast to the sofa, the television, and video game nights."
Raj added shyly, "And because Sheldon didn't kick us out."
Sheldon raised an eyebrow, but couldn't help a slight smile. "Not this time."
Leo leaned back on the sofa, looking at his friends. The room was full of laughter and energy, and for the first time, everything seemed to fit.
---
All four were on the sofa, controllers in hand, and the television lit up the room with the chaos of *Gears of War*. Explosions, gunfire, and shouts echoed in the game as the characters advanced through ruined streets.
Howard was at the front, his avatar charging recklessly. "Come on, come on, take cover!" he shouted, firing nonstop at the Locust emerging from dark tunnels.
Raj, nervous, hid behind a digital wall. "They're surrounding me!" he exclaimed, trying to shoot clumsily.
Sheldon, sitting rigidly but with focused eyes, didn't flinch. "Raj, use cover. Don't run in the open. Press the right button and hold the line." His voice sounded like that of a military commander.
Leo, calm, fired with precision from the center. "Don't split up. Let's move together. Howard, don't go too far ahead."
Howard laughed. "But I'm the hero! Watch this!" His character threw a grenade that exploded in the middle of a group of enemies. "Boom! That's style."
Sheldon raised an eyebrow. "That was a waste of resources. You could have eliminated more enemies if you'd waited for them to cluster."
Howard looked at him amused. "Are you seriously giving me a lecture on grenade economics in the middle of a fictional war?"
Leo mediated again. "What matters is that it worked. Let's keep moving."
Raj, more confident now, managed to take down an enemy from cover. "I did it! I got one."
Howard encouraged him. "That's it, Raj! You're getting into the rhythm."
Sheldon nodded seriously. "Correct. Your aim improved by 30% compared to the first round."
Raj murmured shyly, "Thanks… I think."
---
The mission intensified. The Locust appeared in waves, their screams filling the room. Leo shouted: "On the left!" and they all turned their characters toward the new attack.
Howard fired enthusiastically. "I've got them!"
Raj stayed in cover, shooting carefully. "There are too many!"
Sheldon, calm, said: "Maintain formation. Howard, advance on the right flank. Raj, cover him from behind. Leo and I will hold the center line."
Howard laughed. "So now you're our general?"
Sheldon replied without missing a beat. "If you want to survive, yes."
Leo accepted the strategy. "Alright. Let's follow his plan."
The group moved in coordination. Howard advanced aggressively, Raj covered him, Leo held steady in the center, and Sheldon fired with surgical precision. Little by little, the enemies fell.
---
Between the tension, moments of humor emerged. Howard, running out of ammo, shouted: "I need bullets! Raj, cover me!"
Raj answered nervously: "I'm busy surviving!"
Sheldon commented coldly: "Running out of ammunition is the consequence of your excessive firing. You must manage your resources better."
Howard looked at him, incredulous. "Are you seriously giving me a lecture on bullet economy in the middle of a fictional war?"
Leo laughed. "That's Sheldon. He can't help it."
Meanwhile, Raj managed to save Howard by shooting an enemy that was attacking him. "I did it! I saved you."
Howard looked at him, surprised. "Raj, you're a hero!"
Raj said timidly: "I suppose I am."
---
The mission culminated in a great battle against a stronger group of Locust. The screen filled with explosions, gunfire, and chaos.
Leo shouted: "Stay together!"
Howard fired nonstop. "This is incredible!"
Raj, more confident now, moved with agility, taking cover and shooting. "They won't catch me!"
Sheldon, calm as ever, analyzed every move. "Advance on the left flank. There are fewer enemies. If we maintain cover, we can win."
The group followed his strategy. Little by little, they defeated the enemies until the screen displayed victory.
Howard raised his arms. "We won! We're invincible."
Raj, relieved, said softly: "I didn't think we'd make it."
Sheldon concluded: "Coordination was acceptable. Though we could improve in resource management."
Leo leaned back on the sofa, satisfied. "What matters is that we had fun. And this is just the beginning."
---
The night ended with laughter, pizza, and comments about the match. Howard bragged about his "heroic feats," Raj felt proud of having improved, Sheldon analyzed every detail with precision, and Leo enjoyed seeing how the living room had become a true space of coexistence.
The sofa, the television, and the console had fulfilled their purpose: they weren't just objects, they were the center of a shared experience.
Leo thought silently: "This is what I wanted. Not just an orderly apartment, but a home full of shared moments."
---
Howard's Point of View
Howard held the controller in his hands, his character charging recklessly through the ruined streets of the game, firing nonstop. He laughed, shouted, exaggerated every victory. But behind that energy, his mind kept observing Sheldon, sitting beside him, controller firm, eyes focused.
"At the university everyone said the same thing," Howard thought as he threw a grenade on the screen. "Sheldon Cooper is a genius, yes, but also crazy. Impossible to deal with. No one wanted to share projects with him because he always imposed his rules, corrected every detail, made everyone else feel like idiots."
Howard remembered the times he had seen him in Caltech's hallways, walking with his notebook, muttering formulas, ignoring anyone who tried to greet him. "A brilliant guy, but isolated. As if he lived on his own planet."
Now, sitting on the sofa, the image was different. Sheldon wasn't isolated: he was playing. And not just playing, but participating with them, analyzing every move, giving orders like the commander of a squad.
"Look at him," Howard thought as his character took down an enemy. "He doesn't look crazy now. He looks… like someone who knows exactly what he's doing. Yes, he's still obsessive, still correcting everything, but in this game that obsession works. It keeps us alive."
When Sheldon pointed out that he had wasted a grenade, Howard laughed out loud, but inside he reflected: "Before, I would have been annoyed. At the university I would have told him off. But here… he's right. And he says it with that certainty that, though irritating, makes you follow him."
Howard glanced at Leo, who mediated calmly, softening Sheldon's corrections. "Leo is the bridge. Without him, this would be impossible. Sheldon would never have agreed to play with us. But Leo makes it natural, makes him part of the group."
As his character ran forward, Howard thought: "Maybe Sheldon isn't a crazy impossible guy. Maybe he just needed the right context. A game, a sofa, a group that accepts him. Here he's not the isolated genius of the university. Here he's part of the team."
The match went on and Howard shouted every time he achieved a victory, but in his mind he kept processing the idea. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Sheldon isn't impossible. Difficult, yes. Demanding, yes. But impossible… no. And if he can play with us, maybe he can also be our friend."
---
Raj's Point of View
Raj held the controller, his fingers sweating slightly. His character moved clumsily among the ruins of the game, seeking cover as the Locust appeared in waves. Each shot he managed to land gave him a small relief, but what really occupied his mind wasn't the game, it was Sheldon sitting beside him.
"I always heard stories about Sheldon at Caltech," Raj thought as he hid behind a digital wall. "A genius, yes, but also impossible. Others said he was arrogant, that he couldn't work with anyone, that he corrected even the smallest detail. I saw him myself at conferences: he spoke as if everyone else were elementary school students."
Raj fired and missed. Howard shouted something mocking, and Sheldon, without raising his voice, commented: "Your aim improved by 30% compared to the first round." Raj stayed silent for a few seconds. "Was that… a compliment? Did Sheldon really acknowledge something I did?"
As his character advanced, Raj thought: "I didn't expect it to be like this. Yes, he's still obsessive, still giving orders like a general, but I don't feel belittled. On the contrary, I feel… part of something. As if his way of seeing the game made us better."
Raj remembered the times he had avoided talking to Sheldon in the hallways. "He always intimidated me. I didn't want to be corrected, didn't want to feel small in front of him. But now, here, with a controller in my hands and digital monsters attacking us, I don't feel small. I feel accompanied."
When he managed to save Howard by shooting an enemy that attacked him, Howard shouted: "Raj, you're a hero!" Raj smiled timidly, but inside he thought: "No one had ever told me that. And Sheldon confirmed it with data, as if my effort had real value. Maybe… he's not as impossible as everyone said."
The match went on and Raj felt more confident. "Maybe Sheldon isn't crazy. Maybe he's just someone who needs a context where his way of being makes sense. Here, in this game, his obsession with strategy keeps us alive. And Leo… Leo is the bridge that makes it all work. Without him, Sheldon would never be here with us."
Raj fired again, taking down an enemy. He smiled. "Maybe this is the first time I feel Sheldon can be part of my life. Not as the distant genius of Caltech, but as someone I can share a video game night with."
---
Sheldon's Point of View
Sheldon held the controller with the same precision with which he held a marker in front of his whiteboard. His eyes were fixed on the screen, but his mind, as always, worked on several levels at once.
"Howard Wolowitz," he thought as he watched his avatar run senselessly forward, firing nonstop. "Engineer. Not a doctor. A man who believes his master's degree puts him in the same category as Caltech physicists. Clearly mistaken. And now, in this game, his behavior confirms my hypothesis: excessive enthusiasm, lack of discipline, waste of resources. He has thrown three grenades in less than five minutes. A disastrous military strategy."
Howard shouted loudly: "Boom! Did you see that?"
Sheldon raised an eyebrow. "Yes, we saw it. It was a waste. You could have eliminated more enemies if you had waited. But of course, Howard seeks spectacle, not efficiency. It's like his professional life: more concerned with impressing than with scientific precision."
Yet, as his character advanced, Sheldon noticed something curious. "Despite his lack of discipline, Howard achieves results. His aggressiveness opens paths that would otherwise remain blocked. He is like a hammer: crude, but useful. Perhaps… in this context, his style has value."
______
"Rajesh Koothrappali," Sheldon thought, watching Raj hide behind a digital wall, firing cautiously. "Astrophysicist. Doctor. A man with respectable knowledge, though too timid to express it in public. In this game, his timidity translates into excessive caution. He hides too much, shoots too little. At first, I thought he would be a liability."
Raj shouted nervously: "They're surrounding me!" Sheldon didn't take his eyes off the screen. "Exactly. Because your indecision exposes you. Science requires precision, Raj, not fear. And video games, though fictional, also require action."
But then Raj fired and took down an enemy. Howard supported him, and Sheldon, without losing his analytical tone, commented: "Your aim improved by 30% compared to the first round."
"Interesting," Sheldon thought. "Raj responds to positive reinforcement. His performance improves when he is acknowledged. It's like an experiment with stimulus. If encouraged, he can become a competent player. Not a leader, but a solid support. In military terms, he would be a second-line soldier: not initiating the offensive, but sustaining the formation."
______
As the match progressed, Sheldon analyzed the group's dynamics. "Howard is impulsive, Raj is timid. Two extremes. One runs into danger, the other avoids it. And yet, together they form a curious balance. Howard breaks through, Raj covers him. It is almost… functional."
Sheldon fired with precision, taking down several enemies. "Of course, without my direction, everything would be chaos. I am the general, the strategist. Leo knows this, which is why he lets me give orders. He is the mediator, the bridge between my logic and the others' emotions. Without Leo, Howard and Raj would be mere noise. With Leo, they become a team."
The screen filled with explosions and Sheldon thought: "Perhaps they are not as impossible as I believed. Howard, with his arrogance, and Raj, with his timidity, have obvious flaws. But in this game, their flaws become useful traits. Howard breaks enemy lines. Raj holds the rear. And I… I am the brain that coordinates them."
______
When the mission ended and the screen showed victory, Howard raised his arms and shouted: "We won!" Raj said timidly, relieved. Sheldon merely nodded.
"We won, yes. But more importantly: we survived thanks to strategy. Howard and Raj are not geniuses, nor disciplined, nor even particularly brilliant in this game. But with proper direction, they can be useful. Perhaps… they are not impossible to deal with. Perhaps, in this context, they are tolerable."
Sheldon glanced at Leo. "Of course, all of this works because Leo is here. He smooths the edges, translates my observations, prevents Howard from taking offense and Raj from freezing. Without Leo, tonight would be a disaster. With Leo… it is almost pleasant."
______