I shook my head. "I'll pass. I don't really drink—maybe a can of beer at most. By the way, you're American, right? That's why they call you Sunny Shine?"
"Close enough. I'm actually Canadian, grew up in San Diego. Dad's from Regina, Canada. Mom's South Korean. Real name's Thomas Phalanx Jr.—or Tom."
"How was life in San Diego?"
"Pretty chill. There are good and bad actually. Hah! There was this one time, Lil' $cotti came to perform at my high school when I was in twelfth grade. That guy's the reason I got into music."
"Well, now you're a legend just like him," I said with a grin.
He laughed softly. "Not even close."
"Why's that?" I asked.
"You've seen it yourself. I debuted in a group, not solo. And when the boss has all the attention, it's like… no one even sees me."
"So you feel like the extra piece that doesn't fit?"
"Exactly! The unwanted part. Nailed it, I'm looking at signing with LA Records after the end of this contract," Tom said with a smirk that didn't quite hide the sting.
"Hey, don't sell yourself short. You've got what it takes. Give it five years—you'll have your own legend."
"Maybe." He eyed the check in his hand and whistled. "Wuh~ Three hundred grand. Anyway, I'm cashing this, be right back."
"Sure, go ahead."
As Tom disappeared downstairs, he shouted, "Moon! Show our new guy around, will ya? I'm off to the bank!"
"I thought you were heading to a lounge! Fine, fine, I'm coming!" From nowhere, a good-looking, thin guy with purple mullet hair slid across the floor with an acoustic guitar in hand. Dressed in a black leather coat with crescent earrings, he jumped on my back like a hyper monkey.
"Hiiiii-yaaa!"
"Ouch, dude! You're fine; love your guitar by the way!"
He flipped over my head and landed in front of me with a grin. "Cheon Moon Kim, nice to meet you, Mr. White! Or should I say… Heisenberg! You're not hiding crystal in your bag, are ya?"
"O-okay, that's the wrong show." I backed up, trying not to laugh.
"Hah! You actually got the reference. Cool. So you've met Tom already?"
"Yeah. He's cool—though a bit too hard on himself."
"That's Tommy for you. No ego, one big heart. You can trust him with your life." Moon winked. "We're like brothers. Hell, we've almost gone skinny-dipping together—kidding, kidding!" He poked my chest with the tip of his guitar.
"Haha. Where'd you get it?"
"This old thing?" Moon held it up proudly. The wood was worn, vintage—something out of the '80s. "You can't even buy this model anymore. My great-granddad left it in the attic. This guitar's the reason I'm here. I treat it like my ma and pa."
"I see… wouldn't dream of selling it then."
Before I could say more, the front door slammed open. "I'M BACK-KE-BACK-KE BACK!!"
"FUCKING SHUT UP, TRYIN' TO SLEEP HERE!" came a voice from the 2nd-floor bedroom.
"Sorryyy~!" A blonde guy with pink highlights and thick glasses waved at me. "A new face! White Woojin, right? I'm TT~ Tanny! Make yourself at home! Wanna watch anime? Come join me~!" He flopped on the couch, remote in hand.