春节啦,插播一些轻松的呗,祝大家心有所属,身体健康
, |4 Y8 e v% b& `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5 S! o+ A, _4 h& ~
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?
6 n7 ?( o* h U: u1 f7 N1 s. A1 J3 w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+ ^8 {/ B+ V3 w2 H$ k, [) x9 v
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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% s S6 P. l$ `& g d3 P6 E
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& H- A. w3 \1 z. I. `" e' G5 a ]# C
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。
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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:) R+ K0 h* P' t2 D# D* l
“Leo happy birthday!! We're doing lunch today right? I can pick you up"
' A" H' A, ^+ t( c& G, S OLeo有早起看股票的习惯,不一会儿就收到了回复:4 ~% f0 p/ Z: k: J+ H
“Thanks. Sure. I'll pick the place"
7 g% g6 ?+ Q! |; _肉疼。。。算了,待会儿看好戏
2 g1 I+ g0 [7 s. N. w1 u: |, B“Aight. Can I come over a bit early like around 11? Just wanted to hang out"
v4 j- B* V( o* t D) P6 KLeo回了个OK的表情符号,好嘞
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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. y; S6 t% Y, `+ E6 G Q# m
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
% h; s& [4 {+ S) H$ [+ s$ r我打电话给Leo,打到第二次才接:
I3 S4 i/ ]+ o5 A- }! `( P, L) M+ ^“Hey I'm in the parking lot. Wanna come down?"
/ f$ {4 V; D9 U0 ~0 _* v& tLeo 听起来显然早上看完股票又去回笼了一下:$ {7 e" F' @8 x K+ a# g+ u& [
"Oh is it lunch time now? You can just come up"
/ h. U& f; g( r0 y& S% F8 w+ m3 q3 X" E可恶,我忙了这么久,这家伙爽睡到现在。不能放过他,我坚持:; e, r0 v# E! g( U/ `! B6 `
"No Leo get your ass down here. Come on it's almost noon time why are you still on bed"
. f# l% w3 }2 y; X# W0 zLeo满不在乎:
1 L9 _/ H8 k# K" D. ]) `; A"I'll meet up when I'm hungry. You're welcome to take a stroll or something. Later Dustin"* A3 z% ^- N& F4 F/ c2 }
"No no Leo don't go"我咬咬牙,只好使出大绝:- ]2 G7 z# C4 g( f0 Q5 w
“I got something for you. I promise it'll be worth it. Please Leo please"
0 b, ]. ~0 H& o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:* y8 \3 A& L+ P
“Gimme a bit". ^9 y5 J6 b3 G) Y
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6 ]: A8 M- K: G) K- C% y" W f; E
' A9 a* J: t1 t+ m9 h, m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 u9 f1 U$ {/ 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:
! _* m: U" R) j3 ^# H+ R4 \“What the..."
, s# {1 q' f' t6 l* U& k3 t5 c我满意地看着他,还没欣赏够,Leo转过头,眼睛危险地半眯着:
% g. X9 ~) F$ W0 H, c$ Z“Is this some sort of comeback for last year?": V1 ?& B7 ^: O
"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:6 k2 a0 o+ d: J+ D' a+ _
“In Chinese culture, turning 30 is a big thing. So I just wanted to get you something special"* ?* y, d( V6 s! |1 T- a( V
不想跟他纠结这些有的没的,我拉着他的胳膊:
, u. M8 Q8 `7 B5 Q6 u“Let's get this thing up and running. I can't wait to see how it'll turn out in your apartment"
: t; M$ _8 d% ]4 I9 j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 N. F1 z3 b; \# g- E3 C& z& b“This is supposed to be a gift right?"
5 d% p7 u$ e8 h! k [. l9 _不明白他在搞什么名堂:
) x7 W0 d/ F ?; w“Yes?"
1 ?" {2 N# g$ x6 gLeo伸了个懒腰:5 O! L+ P- \1 S1 a+ W0 O
“Then you're supposed to deliver it to my door. Keep rolling. I'll wait upstairs"
" p f. v) V% z- ~说完潇洒地转身就走。这回轮到我下巴掉到地上:
& a0 {1 ~( i6 F& k6 D“Wait Leo. It's very heavy"
# [, d L o; X4 {9 H$ k2 sLeo 头也不回:
% e3 r5 k1 R: m! l6 E* B' y* h“You've made it here. Shouldn't be that bad"3 \ t! Q ^% M
算你狠,我咬咬牙:# X; K$ o% e" G- ?. G
“Leo would you please help me?"4 w( ~, x2 G% \) N/ z* [
Leo摆摆手
& z Y, W& l$ K1 N' P# @“You ran out of that today. Good luck"
6 B8 z* E6 A* x' p1 e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:; j+ k+ U7 R2 K
“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?"! f$ ` n4 ?2 @8 ^3 z r: n, i
兴许是良心发现,Leo回过头来,若有所思地看着我:. V3 f* C% G; j: @8 S
“That one probably"
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1 R0 |6 V1 e1 q2 L5 t" r% o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$ a) [$ L, P8 h, m- }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
, W; G* O/ ?' h* c# A( ~( h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。。。
2 c& ^& A9 c* m终于来到了他的门口,我两手一摊:2 g% p6 w* ]) W4 J2 _
“Ok it's now at your door. You can do the rest right? Good luck..."7 U! T0 Y2 \: B) v/ p
还没说完脑袋上就挨了一记,Leo指着来路:
$ q/ m! |3 o7 y1 r8 H4 I. s“Unless you wanna haul all of these back on your own, you're gonna help me"/ h J) P4 ]8 k
没等我抱怨,又接着说:
- M9 q; ^" i( B* d a8 ]4 a“Now let's start off with the stand. I think i have an idea of where to put it, but we'll see": p9 J. G, ?3 Y9 r3 h
& }9 s9 \) [2 C% o7 k- |( \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& R+ o: `! O1 a# N
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( K# I' X4 _; K' I/ y, f2 `
Leo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:
, |/ n5 ?% h$ t; U( E9 i/ I“Hang in there"
. B0 y& {2 S7 m+ W% X1 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9 _+ ]( n& |. |0 ?0 D. K
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 A3 a) m! i9 x
$ x b+ o& F4 g乱七八糟的想法还没发酵完,肩膀上突然一轻,Leo拍拍手:2 D1 F$ z+ S- s, A
“Done. Lunch?”
3 U" `% Y M i m我点点头,完了抬起头看Leo,他正在看着鱼缸,我忍不住问道:7 R7 i. t, t. g# h* X
“Did you...like my gift?"
1 F2 G- C( d$ Y1 P. s. ULeo看着我,咧着嘴坏笑:
: g0 D# x1 \+ W# m, S7 }. ]: j"I would say yes if it was a McLaren"* W$ c2 Y- F) I! h
我抓抓头:
6 J0 V q' P* H$ V& H$ H“Sorry I can't afford that. My kids are serious money sinks you know"
+ I. @$ E; ?5 `' s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:0 X# U2 Y) {; C- Q: z% ^& v
“Easy. Just put them up for adoption”
0 |4 Y& l7 V I/ R- V" C: H9 H5 U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:( o* ~" S. ? D, m
“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"
* P2 Q$ G# J$ T! [" N7 fLeo 停下来,看着我,难得露出一丝为难的表情:
0 g( v( f0 j7 k0 f$ x“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"4 t* c" w" Z3 W) R% f5 r( H/ ?' b
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:, ]: m7 O8 g9 {3 }8 z
“I can help. Wanna treat me to lunch instead?"
1 J4 t9 c4 {6 C( J/ VLeo意味深长地看了我一眼,指了指身后的鱼缸: j& k) Q, ?( U2 I
“How does seafood sound? Small portion due to supply"" e+ L8 R W* O. \0 K: m
我撇撇嘴,得,午饭还是我请吧0 N1 E+ J- G; [3 c' Y7 o
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