春节啦,插播一些轻松的呗,祝大家心有所属,身体健康
: g- C6 X3 j+ ~3 y2024年的时候Leo 30岁了。对,这孽障也是明日黄花了。不过毕竟是个小小的里程碑,感觉我还是得表示表示。只是想了好几天,貌似也找不到什么值得送的。平常该送该买的都做得差不多了,连锦上添花都很难。眼看着日子一天天靠近,实在伤脑筋, y" @9 L8 l9 [/ l! r2 d: R+ R
无意间目光聚焦在家里的鱼缸上。这是个10加仑的小缸,里面有几只小虾,几条红绿灯和花鼠。这还是再前一年跟Leo逛Petco的时候被他连哄带骗逼着设好的缸,本来说好一人一缸,结果我这边都弄好大半年了,他那边一点动静也没有,每次问起来都是各种理由推脱,什么房子是租的不方便没有合适的架子blahblahblah。想到这儿豁然开朗,原来答案一直近在眼前,何不趁这个机会将他一军,给他也设一个?先偷偷在我家设好,等他生日那天直接搬到他门口,难道他还能当场拒绝不成?! v C) E) d+ ^# X3 ?4 \8 c
而且毕竟30岁嘛,得有仪式感,不能随随便便是个缸就解决了,得是分量足够的才行。一拍脑袋,那就设个海缸吧. K% y- d5 k: a
4 Z+ Z1 \/ U1 ]+ ]+ r; [还好以前在国内的时候也接触过海缸,活石,过滤,恒温,基本知识都有。头像里那条三间火箭就是原本家里养的,漂亮是真漂亮,麻烦也是真麻烦。傻乎乎的,还挑食得不行,下嘴前得对着食物盯半天,长得不好看的都不要。想到Leo将来也有可能会面对这些烦恼,恨不得立刻就给他设好搬过去
, z8 T0 q7 C6 f' \: U6 V当然因为还是要在家里摆一段时间,先跟老婆沟通好,腾出了一个位置。花了一上午时间研究,决定还是从10加仑着手,毕竟再大就不好搬过去了1 K% k( R; m; J; O+ w
设缸的细节不再赘述,出于对水质的考量,整体过程用了将近两周才基本完成,最后放了一对小丑,一条火鸟,一只清洁虾,一只瓷蟹,还有蜗牛寄居蟹若干。还是给Leo留了情面的,买的都是些见啥都吃的猪,是海缸里最简单的那些了。为了防止他再用没有架子放这种狗屁理由来搪塞,索性连架子也一并给他配齐了。发现海缸在美帝是个相当昂贵的爱好,虽然已经能省则省,最后加起来还是超过了300刀,感觉同样的配置能以大约五分之一的价格在国内解决。Leo的公寓我很熟悉,我甚至都能想象他会怎么摆,摆好后会长什么样。$ [8 l* f) B4 d7 c
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Leo的生日很快到了。为了防止生日这天他另有安排这种乌龙事发生,早早就跟他约了午饭。但深知这人尿性,一觉醒来还是不放心,赶紧给他发个短信:
( s% x- `9 s2 g9 S5 W“Leo happy birthday!! We're doing lunch today right? I can pick you up"+ F) l5 `2 b: X5 e
Leo有早起看股票的习惯,不一会儿就收到了回复:5 n# {, E& q4 Y8 [
“Thanks. Sure. I'll pick the place"- v8 _: W6 {! A \+ {
肉疼。。。算了,待会儿看好戏
# i5 j6 z9 ~, x, f3 P" X& e$ ^; p“Aight. Can I come over a bit early like around 11? Just wanted to hang out"
' S0 `* |* b8 G; ]; cLeo回了个OK的表情符号,好嘞6 [( V6 @1 g9 f; P% o/ c8 J
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结果连Leo影子都还没见着呢,报应先落到我头上了。搬鱼缸真的是个浩大的工程,就算是这么小的一个,也动用了一个额外的大水桶装水和石头,两个脸盆装器材。因为是海水的关系,还得提前把车子布置一下以防溅洒。Leo住公寓,停车场离他的单元老远了,思来想去还得带上平板购物车,最后愣是装满了一辆小SUV
$ _4 d# V) w0 ^1 B一路上小心翼翼,老干部开车,恨不得每个路口都缓缓划过去,连路上的每个不起眼的小坑都让我心惊肉跳。好不容易到地方了,停好车,怀着忐忑的心情打开后备箱,呼,幸好,只撒了一点点出来而已5 Z+ \' V' k: J% _+ Z
我打电话给Leo,打到第二次才接:
. q% P8 r: e/ C) _“Hey I'm in the parking lot. Wanna come down?"* E! G: S( N7 W9 r
Leo 听起来显然早上看完股票又去回笼了一下:' M3 E5 i% C# o& v. N B- v
"Oh is it lunch time now? You can just come up"- B) I( D% J; w. }& c
可恶,我忙了这么久,这家伙爽睡到现在。不能放过他,我坚持:' d$ C! d8 V3 x) R7 f
"No Leo get your ass down here. Come on it's almost noon time why are you still on bed"# V% r" J+ e$ o4 ?
Leo满不在乎:
3 \- y) W+ z# H/ M& X" H"I'll meet up when I'm hungry. You're welcome to take a stroll or something. Later Dustin"
' g& O' j$ B# j- _3 @; z, i! r5 w"No no Leo don't go"我咬咬牙,只好使出大绝:
" H2 `; ]8 ^. q. S" D4 ~+ v6 I“I got something for you. I promise it'll be worth it. Please Leo please"
& a: X/ X$ M& Z& V我很少这么郑重其事地求他,料想他一定不会拒绝。果然,沉默了一会儿,好像听到他轻轻叹了一口气:
/ f4 z. u O s" U b“Gimme a bit"
3 C& G1 P* H# t% ]挂掉电话,心里笑开了花,期待着待会儿Leo看到这缸鱼的表情。我知道他没那么快,干脆把椅子躺倒,闭目养神一会儿( }3 ~1 i* ~3 ]8 _# j& S
) B/ w) S- m9 f, K不知过了多久,听到了有人敲车窗的声音。我睁开眼睛,Leo穿着睡衣就下来了,头发乱得跟鸡窝一样,哈欠连连。我一跃下车,趁他还没反应过来抱了他一下。哎,跟女朋友处久了,这小子身上的味道也慢慢变了,但还是挺好闻的
8 c/ f7 V6 a) G0 ^% N放开Leo,兴致勃勃地打开行李箱,等着看好戏。Leo过来一瞧,果然下巴掉到了地上:6 V' m% A' H3 Y* d* c7 R0 r
“What the..."
! P7 Y% r. u$ S% g7 W9 M# g我满意地看着他,还没欣赏够,Leo转过头,眼睛危险地半眯着:! [3 S. Q# g) m% B
“Is this some sort of comeback for last year?"
+ o- U3 [0 H6 o( }; w# e6 Z/ m"No no definitely not"我心里偷笑,果然猜到了,但为了人身安全,这嘴上肯定是不能承认的: `( a5 W: d' @! d3 d
“In Chinese culture, turning 30 is a big thing. So I just wanted to get you something special"
6 c0 {) X) J$ I" W5 }6 y9 N, C不想跟他纠结这些有的没的,我拉着他的胳膊:
3 ?" F2 B5 N: o" G2 s“Let's get this thing up and running. I can't wait to see how it'll turn out in your apartment"% K0 i+ O2 d) k! v0 W% o
没想到Leo纹丝不动,脸上换了一副似笑非笑的表情,打掉我的手:
3 S& _0 F5 n+ F/ ]8 o* K“This is supposed to be a gift right?"
4 @/ G" k% p# E1 L不明白他在搞什么名堂:
4 C3 v# ]) {, w8 L- S) Z2 i“Yes?"
$ X D2 x, B$ K" d3 W1 HLeo伸了个懒腰:0 @# }% b! y( T1 R( o: o9 l9 P* o
“Then you're supposed to deliver it to my door. Keep rolling. I'll wait upstairs"
( U7 x- G5 m6 y" i# ^. k" I说完潇洒地转身就走。这回轮到我下巴掉到地上:
& E, l" O1 }* P, Y4 J“Wait Leo. It's very heavy"' W0 f3 {4 z; e- M
Leo 头也不回:2 s. F: Z" D7 U4 d; g- R3 T
“You've made it here. Shouldn't be that bad"( P2 ?4 ?0 `; r" i: F6 T( o
算你狠,我咬咬牙:
9 r8 ?) F& Q" G+ ~5 |2 |+ {) |! y/ z“Leo would you please help me?"
% U- y1 |1 m$ U" CLeo摆摆手* b) C8 c4 v" f: W
“You ran out of that today. Good luck"; h0 n/ y: k" t- q# I# N4 t2 ~
怎么还有这种事。。。想着中间还有好几道防火门,只好最后再挣扎一下:
9 n8 U- I! u# |9 D“Could you at least hold those doors? It would be very difficult for me to get through with a trolley full of containers filled with water. Please?"
7 h0 K. n( ^; C, ~# |9 b' u兴许是良心发现,Leo回过头来,若有所思地看着我:0 ]7 {: Z! q. ?5 c) {$ W( P
“That one probably"" ^, a0 R0 w4 o) J. b: N$ I6 g) m, i
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看着满满当当的后备箱,叹了口气,我为什么要给自己找这么多事。。。看到身边Leo这混蛋,又憋了一口气,妈的,自己来就自己来,撸起袖子干就是了
" y; [* d0 X9 _% q5 j5 n$ {打开平板车,再一样一样小心翼翼地把剩下的装备拿出来,很快就把小车装满了。不知道是不是巧合,经过一番调整,小车居然完美地装下了所有零零散散的东西。Leo果然铁石心肠,说到做到,真的一丁点忙也不帮,全程就在一旁双手插兜,乐呵呵地看着
4 j" J1 n8 x- c; d% ]: N还好这混蛋最后有帮我把门。我数了数,Leo这破公寓从停车场到他的单元之间竟然有五道防火门。每一道都挺重的,平常问题不大,现下是真的没他不行。。。7 @ l+ ]3 X X/ l
终于来到了他的门口,我两手一摊:
; L6 C- P s( G* }0 C" }“Ok it's now at your door. You can do the rest right? Good luck..."
. E& |7 Y6 l, ~8 Q$ X还没说完脑袋上就挨了一记,Leo指着来路:% j9 O! G; g4 k% z/ z2 n
“Unless you wanna haul all of these back on your own, you're gonna help me"
+ W) z& `( l& \没等我抱怨,又接着说:
' x. [+ F. z+ v# v- h# I' } ^/ H“Now let's start off with the stand. I think i have an idea of where to put it, but we'll see"( A3 [0 `# H! p
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一个鱼缸架两个人一起抬并不重,看走的方向,果然,Leo计划摆放的地方跟我预想的差不多。放下之后Leo再比划了一阵,确认没什么大问题后,我们便把剩下的东西都搬了进来。又折腾了一阵,总算是大致把鱼缸复原了。还好,小动物们看起来有些受到惊吓,但状态都似乎没什么大问题
5 @1 G0 N7 X$ J# x1 x9 @ j9 f7 p因为考虑到需要搬运和Leo公寓空间的限制,鱼缸架高度较矮,基本上蹲下来才能跟鱼缸平视。蹲了一会儿腿有些麻,想着这块儿反正也是地毯,便索性跪坐下来。Leo站在我后面,越过我和鱼缸整理电源线。低下头的时候可以看到Leo的拖鞋还有白色的袜子,后脑勺正对着Leo的胯下,头发甚至偶尔能感受到跟睡裤间轻微的摩擦
" W( t/ d+ N2 x' m$ [8 cLeo就这样弯腰操作了一会儿,也许是这个姿势有些累,Leo拍拍我的脑袋:
! H$ w5 q6 d! {6 q' u% r T“Hang in there"9 N5 V& ]3 Z* f+ E0 W! T& F
正想问他指的是什么,只听Leo踢掉一只拖鞋,右边肩膀压力陡增,一个软软暖暖的东西压在了上面。我转头,一抹白色近在咫尺,原来如此- }# j7 ~) T( n
我尽量挺直腰板撑着Leo,这个姿势多少还是有些羞辱。我抬头看了看,Leo正全神贯注地理线,没有丝毫的分心,仿佛这是一件再自然不过的事。我低下头,默默地靠近Leo的白袜脚,偷偷吸了吸鼻子。刚起床的Leo根本没什么味道,但是自从我跟他不再住在一起之后便鲜少有机会能接触到这些了,下半身还是又有要抬头的趋势
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乱七八糟的想法还没发酵完,肩膀上突然一轻,Leo拍拍手:
8 ~- O) ?- R5 p( a0 E: U; h“Done. Lunch?”" o) }% n& f% f4 t7 [2 Q
我点点头,完了抬起头看Leo,他正在看着鱼缸,我忍不住问道:
9 `# X8 f9 z- F7 G A" u% r“Did you...like my gift?"6 N- o9 H/ d' B6 B7 z
Leo看着我,咧着嘴坏笑:, v- a+ a7 W! D4 y! V( z; n; J: b
"I would say yes if it was a McLaren"
: W8 H- }# x4 k8 }* C我抓抓头:
& F- c1 Q3 G5 `“Sorry I can't afford that. My kids are serious money sinks you know"
, X }& [% X9 `# `+ n- Y5 S% {2 d明明知道是胡搅蛮缠,却仍然忍不住想要解释,也不知道为什么。Leo还是那个欠揍的表情:! m. h6 Z, K$ m2 L
“Easy. Just put them up for adoption”) j- w; v! [: y3 M0 [" ]
我哑然。可能也是觉得胡话说够了,Leo伸出手,摸摸我的头,笑着说:' [9 T6 Z' C" q! O- Z3 i
“Kidding. I like the tank. It looks amazing. I can see you've put in a lot of thoughts and efforts. This is a truly special gift, one of the best I've ever had. Thank you Dustin. I really appreciate it. There's only one problem, though"
( p8 `. ~" l% S: tLeo 停下来,看着我,难得露出一丝为难的表情:8 m: ]/ L9 O" W$ `( O7 R
“I have zero experience with saltwater. I had freshwater back in Chicago and that's about it. I assume you've already picked the hardy ones and I'll try my best. But still, I wanted to preemptively apologize if anyone there doesn't want to work with me"
- i) ~6 H2 A1 R# W8 r, |嘿嘿,难得Leo也有不自信的时候,不能放过这个机会,想了想,对Leo说道:
; L B, z7 h9 j Z" b0 S* j0 A% z“I can help. Wanna treat me to lunch instead?"
4 F% ]* W" p( Q% k- _Leo意味深长地看了我一眼,指了指身后的鱼缸:
- B" `% l7 J/ b" k: D$ Z“How does seafood sound? Small portion due to supply"
& m+ N& {- m0 V0 l( [: Q我撇撇嘴,得,午饭还是我请吧
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