春节啦,插播一些轻松的呗,祝大家心有所属,身体健康 ; I3 ^4 V) ~7 c# W4 Y
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
1 @2 ?, M0 Z0 g# x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?
0 W2 a9 L/ ?3 u+ R6 e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- {. g& w) u, i/ @' I" G1 w: Z% i
( N A+ s5 Q5 K+ z2 c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! L; K" f5 ]- j
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
' d3 n9 ?. \, M5 a( ^* ]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。9 `9 `9 f0 f- v0 f' ]$ ~, h
+ c( u8 U6 o& o4 ]( g3 @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:
], G2 V1 W' n2 d4 j“Leo happy birthday!! We're doing lunch today right? I can pick you up"+ d1 w. u. l7 t$ ]! W& L$ f8 q
Leo有早起看股票的习惯,不一会儿就收到了回复:: \ x8 h g5 r$ p
“Thanks. Sure. I'll pick the place"
0 b' u+ N7 r# o) [3 F. l# r肉疼。。。算了,待会儿看好戏5 Z+ a2 u" A9 K; Z
“Aight. Can I come over a bit early like around 11? Just wanted to hang out"
% z* ^9 w1 N$ E0 e% H& ~/ iLeo回了个OK的表情符号,好嘞
8 @# \+ b# a% c7 I/ s2 N) ]" C& {6 t, z. V0 _
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
& e* A2 N5 ~. g7 U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
8 ]+ g7 Q; |% x8 n我打电话给Leo,打到第二次才接:/ T8 {/ d- t# b& ^3 m8 }! N
“Hey I'm in the parking lot. Wanna come down?"
. X2 x: ~; N: L# u% cLeo 听起来显然早上看完股票又去回笼了一下:
4 y3 l6 V) A' U"Oh is it lunch time now? You can just come up"' ~4 ^) p1 c4 V1 v4 ~$ m7 d
可恶,我忙了这么久,这家伙爽睡到现在。不能放过他,我坚持:
" ^ ~7 c% k7 F8 L) V. I/ z"No Leo get your ass down here. Come on it's almost noon time why are you still on bed"8 `. U2 O b6 B
Leo满不在乎:9 u2 A. E: u/ i
"I'll meet up when I'm hungry. You're welcome to take a stroll or something. Later Dustin"( O/ J0 v: |8 x+ A3 o
"No no Leo don't go"我咬咬牙,只好使出大绝:# |' ~& [- ^' Y9 p& K
“I got something for you. I promise it'll be worth it. Please Leo please"
0 H) \3 c/ v1 _6 n# |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:
2 @# Z4 A" y6 O“Gimme a bit"
1 \: u. ~( C9 I0 I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
( o$ P2 u# U- |. n1 {2 L6 ?# s) X
. B0 G8 r S. f& H; d. ^0 z4 X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
& y6 Z D; H2 m) O3 W5 A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:
4 P: x+ E7 f$ X' A5 }1 N“What the..."& b$ h/ g" G D. X
我满意地看着他,还没欣赏够,Leo转过头,眼睛危险地半眯着:0 W& k* @' F6 m7 K
“Is this some sort of comeback for last year?"
3 L7 {$ e3 u0 v"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 W. f$ U6 i. z5 i
“In Chinese culture, turning 30 is a big thing. So I just wanted to get you something special"* ^. `1 R9 j& @8 h; A
不想跟他纠结这些有的没的,我拉着他的胳膊:# d+ z3 H# [9 \5 N
“Let's get this thing up and running. I can't wait to see how it'll turn out in your apartment". f) ?! n" D" X4 c
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:
& b( }" N4 f; |# Y. x+ ?“This is supposed to be a gift right?"
" \. Y( h& ], T* d不明白他在搞什么名堂:' g0 \) E# _) y8 P) }( ]% K
“Yes?": v# p! c. r5 m
Leo伸了个懒腰:
6 Y% t0 V. [/ {/ \$ x“Then you're supposed to deliver it to my door. Keep rolling. I'll wait upstairs", x6 i* f: C3 ~" f* X8 k
说完潇洒地转身就走。这回轮到我下巴掉到地上:
\9 T. p6 b4 ~& K“Wait Leo. It's very heavy"
. m8 N" K2 w8 Q6 VLeo 头也不回:
9 y* V2 T% ~2 |, Q8 h5 ], |“You've made it here. Shouldn't be that bad"
* Z* [4 D T' Q算你狠,我咬咬牙:
# i0 \8 F+ o1 W3 C# C I7 I“Leo would you please help me?"6 {' p4 l7 p" M4 V0 e( F
Leo摆摆手# S' P- _# K) {. z! b/ \
“You ran out of that today. Good luck"6 s7 i# f' H! ]6 A! L: [
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:8 g( \. q/ g2 n: X" c
“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?"
$ h, B3 x' ]" A) p! T3 b) r, w/ l兴许是良心发现,Leo回过头来,若有所思地看着我:
# H9 W( Y3 p, O1 C- P% J“That one probably"
- V, g- C& C2 H% \$ l! v1 p7 }) l& b) 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
7 s7 P5 g! l9 U9 e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% {' g( m( n0 c
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。。。' U& |+ V. T& o- p3 g
终于来到了他的门口,我两手一摊:
W+ b& I+ ~: u* I. V“Ok it's now at your door. You can do the rest right? Good luck..."
# k- i6 E* n& d还没说完脑袋上就挨了一记,Leo指着来路:
3 y h1 w/ O( X: V: Z5 U! l& b“Unless you wanna haul all of these back on your own, you're gonna help me"
* z3 B+ l; \) R$ [0 M3 e# c/ f没等我抱怨,又接着说:/ j) ~- k8 k) p8 a
“Now let's start off with the stand. I think i have an idea of where to put it, but we'll see"2 ?6 @) y7 I$ y4 s6 j. k: D
" E" ?0 l- @3 o# n6 d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. C; I7 T P- L+ Q$ _3 _4 T5 I
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
. G2 f" l3 P9 ^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:
& w$ B/ B) K- c+ H7 o' X. G- g“Hang in there"& w* z+ K# U; r* g
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* X. m" r" U }: 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
) S* U- ]2 d% s: o' h1 M- J+ r2 R% L z1 j
乱七八糟的想法还没发酵完,肩膀上突然一轻,Leo拍拍手:- O" j+ z- N. z4 s. G
“Done. Lunch?”
& |4 M0 z0 _: d( e- z* E我点点头,完了抬起头看Leo,他正在看着鱼缸,我忍不住问道:. \: d7 Q% ~. l1 a5 j
“Did you...like my gift?"
! u; D7 Z1 i1 j6 K1 n3 A6 x. g9 [Leo看着我,咧着嘴坏笑:
+ j4 _- }& ?2 O% N"I would say yes if it was a McLaren"
7 x# J( @. O3 O) r+ v7 n我抓抓头:
9 A2 x- a6 l# q# c“Sorry I can't afford that. My kids are serious money sinks you know"8 |. e* x) H$ X
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:
% V% |( n1 w, w \5 {" e4 {# g2 n“Easy. Just put them up for adoption”
7 X8 G; G$ M* q- e1 y+ 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:* P4 B2 ]1 B+ P- R- \' r. b1 o- 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"
" Z" T$ D; S* F# K, }8 x4 c+ KLeo 停下来,看着我,难得露出一丝为难的表情:3 V. T% p, d5 m/ @3 j- [
“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") B8 y4 D. f' H
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:# ]# l9 n! |8 y5 Y( P1 E! T! g
“I can help. Wanna treat me to lunch instead?"
: S% ~ B, B1 d/ D* z. @0 NLeo意味深长地看了我一眼,指了指身后的鱼缸:
2 B! |( q8 O! H2 m8 r“How does seafood sound? Small portion due to supply"
& W9 ~& f3 L+ u9 _8 t! t6 E我撇撇嘴,得,午饭还是我请吧; \/ F |- P% ^7 K. t
$ t* f1 L) z' P* a, } |