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春节啦,插播一些轻松的呗,祝大家心有所属,身体健康 * Z3 i5 r! P: i+ }- G8 _! A7 V5 _
2024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% b7 E, O5 v: c9 W( A
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?; ^' u8 z$ J2 N; V2 K9 L
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
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# @, s+ L, |. F7 e" _- x, D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
; e) H4 l; H9 E) v/ k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
! i- o' y7 r: v8 Q ?: e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。+ R. f/ }* E! w- i! o4 W, B
/ V( C% Q: d# l+ \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:
% M. N0 ~2 c/ D, Y! K“Leo happy birthday!! We're doing lunch today right? I can pick you up"
1 l% {8 P: O! t( o: lLeo有早起看股票的习惯,不一会儿就收到了回复:
+ k2 I/ m# b; a- y“Thanks. Sure. I'll pick the place"2 c) l$ m6 i/ H4 S3 b% o, R
肉疼。。。算了,待会儿看好戏% r: U0 H( |7 u/ m9 w$ l# \9 c
“Aight. Can I come over a bit early like around 11? Just wanted to hang out"
7 @( d6 \# {! J& o* C9 P! M. | Q- eLeo回了个OK的表情符号,好嘞
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. i, l) x0 O' o) Z; X6 v! C0 ?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
, o2 b2 H' ?' Z* n. U+ h' ?9 r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
% u% }$ v' `! h' a m我打电话给Leo,打到第二次才接:
% g6 L& Z: y: C3 z4 F“Hey I'm in the parking lot. Wanna come down?", {" t, K3 @9 i6 ]0 ?" [3 D' s+ G" R2 C
Leo 听起来显然早上看完股票又去回笼了一下:6 i1 ~2 i. g0 W' O( z7 Z' i
"Oh is it lunch time now? You can just come up"
7 ]# }, K% m: H可恶,我忙了这么久,这家伙爽睡到现在。不能放过他,我坚持:
" `) O& V9 w, i! e4 G& z' ~/ ~! M8 Q* s"No Leo get your ass down here. Come on it's almost noon time why are you still on bed"
& R5 m! J' ~+ Y1 i6 rLeo满不在乎:; T1 U5 E7 z( \% U
"I'll meet up when I'm hungry. You're welcome to take a stroll or something. Later Dustin"
; W- o% E' Q0 ]+ r* H" u% s"No no Leo don't go"我咬咬牙,只好使出大绝:
E& k. a0 r5 n“I got something for you. I promise it'll be worth it. Please Leo please"" M, {( o: ^3 h; ~0 l5 ^
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:# t. W" v$ C" \1 w2 }' V, Y& K
“Gimme a bit"
3 a0 v0 m- s% {+ P+ f; [1 [/ H& U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
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& g2 b- m" E* [& y/ D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7 ~% \ H* ^- `: `9 P" d; ]9 ~* c1 Y
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 A/ E$ ?$ u% |6 T
“What the...". `9 M4 e/ v( V, J7 D9 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:" h5 v. e8 x {. N2 k4 b
“Is this some sort of comeback for last year?"
_$ j; y$ y s* E. e! r"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:
7 F5 y' G5 K6 N& i9 ~# b2 U“In Chinese culture, turning 30 is a big thing. So I just wanted to get you something special"& O- o/ L& O5 i& [" \
不想跟他纠结这些有的没的,我拉着他的胳膊:
/ M7 k1 F, M/ V“Let's get this thing up and running. I can't wait to see how it'll turn out in your apartment"/ t4 n4 z1 s1 Q9 k" Z( [) ?
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:
- Z- r) L7 ?8 P9 L2 W+ P“This is supposed to be a gift right?"
\; p: v# ^1 X3 q不明白他在搞什么名堂:
( [" d X, ^2 e9 I2 @“Yes?"; y0 Y5 @) k& x2 \6 q+ q5 s
Leo伸了个懒腰:
$ j/ ], G: W2 G% E- a“Then you're supposed to deliver it to my door. Keep rolling. I'll wait upstairs"3 F# T" A" n1 h
说完潇洒地转身就走。这回轮到我下巴掉到地上:7 g& s$ T! C8 j) X ]
“Wait Leo. It's very heavy"" B1 f& P+ w S% z7 i/ I& E
Leo 头也不回:
. [6 |/ m) `1 x; B6 p7 w“You've made it here. Shouldn't be that bad"# Z) U# d5 U6 H% Z1 q
算你狠,我咬咬牙:
$ I) ~/ {* _7 e& Q“Leo would you please help me?"
8 D- [& ?. h* F6 c5 Q# t$ ELeo摆摆手$ i# [* p9 y+ `* b6 L2 E
“You ran out of that today. Good luck"7 X! i6 h" u1 `' _, f. C
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:
# }: v: @' }4 X$ s. Q“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?"
) `3 G5 C) s) C e" I( e; ], s兴许是良心发现,Leo回过头来,若有所思地看着我:' ?8 t. h7 x* R. u: F$ g
“That one probably"5 b) N/ N5 d) L( W: N h! k
4 V( j& {" w% A& x8 D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
# b+ V4 b2 U( J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
* r9 ?9 G% k6 i# D8 T7 A: |7 P& 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。。。
& y) Z5 a- c- L d终于来到了他的门口,我两手一摊:
$ e9 U7 t9 O# A9 y w“Ok it's now at your door. You can do the rest right? Good luck...". a2 r1 k- e0 C, X) E
还没说完脑袋上就挨了一记,Leo指着来路:% l7 e) h6 |3 |: \( D
“Unless you wanna haul all of these back on your own, you're gonna help me"
* X& m/ ~* E$ q7 q! V没等我抱怨,又接着说:
& s& u3 s$ y b* N“Now let's start off with the stand. I think i have an idea of where to put it, but we'll see"8 L* g- V. P. @+ H3 l' h
( R( q( I1 V0 `" X. n: l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
1 b- w6 I! h$ ]* V/ `& [! C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
+ t; }' b( D& O7 m+ I" x2 xLeo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:
$ O& x6 ]- k# q, w- e/ a! ~7 J, B“Hang in there"
! p W3 p$ ?9 i( ]3 B8 j/ E" h8 E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
" s# ?. S& ~% C# ~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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8 o4 m; n+ x0 t% R乱七八糟的想法还没发酵完,肩膀上突然一轻,Leo拍拍手:
4 k- F. W0 E1 p, }9 X1 X6 S4 y“Done. Lunch?”& H. W2 x% n$ I7 [1 w& e5 v) O
我点点头,完了抬起头看Leo,他正在看着鱼缸,我忍不住问道:3 a# v ~# M! ]. y* G( G# Q: k
“Did you...like my gift?"
2 r( V( @7 Y1 y! Y+ y" t ~8 nLeo看着我,咧着嘴坏笑:" \5 G' K: {# T3 M5 {7 y
"I would say yes if it was a McLaren"
$ Q7 f3 A# s8 y我抓抓头:, `* i6 G0 c! o4 W! Y( Q Y
“Sorry I can't afford that. My kids are serious money sinks you know"# h1 C% w4 A {: ]1 v+ j5 u g6 V' n
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: ^) [& s M( M$ ]1 ]8 I) p ?
“Easy. Just put them up for adoption”9 Y: Z6 ^7 X) b! Q) F' y! I5 ~3 z
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:
4 [' t" W( d* \; E“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"0 D. o8 C" X% N& t) ]8 i" s* \: K
Leo 停下来,看着我,难得露出一丝为难的表情:
* p# Q" y) S: ^1 Q# H5 N3 `# p“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"' V- n- K1 w9 f1 i1 A
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:
A$ C% m% H! H* ^; p! T$ H“I can help. Wanna treat me to lunch instead?"
" f* I; |! \" p. ALeo意味深长地看了我一眼,指了指身后的鱼缸:$ Y. X0 b% D1 I S: q
“How does seafood sound? Small portion due to supply"
5 V/ j, ~% @1 k5 {5 k我撇撇嘴,得,午饭还是我请吧1 R% c' B" i6 W$ N j$ c
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