Bar Boys

A quartet of friends plays League of Legends in an internet cafe and then checks their law school entrance results. Erik, Christian, and Torran pass, while Joshua does not, revealing that he never truly wanted to be a lawyer and had pursued the path to satisfy his parents' wishes. The moment sets the tone for the different paths each will take.

Their families celebrate the news, with Torran's middle-class clan inviting neighbors to share in the joy and ambition. Erik's father, a former cop turned security guard, hopes the degree will lift them out of poverty, while his mother worries about tuition. Christian comes from a wealthy family and chooses to study law in the Philippines to stay close to his girlfriend.

They begin law school and attend their first class where Atty. Victor Cruz, a young gay lawyer, teaches them the importance of specificity. The lesson emphasizes how precise details can change arguments and outcomes in legal work. The environment is competitive but educational, setting the tone for their upcoming careers.

Torran begins a relationship with a popular, intelligent classmate and is invited to join an elite law school fraternity after an altercation with a rival. He faces a moral dilemma when he witnesses fraternity abuse and must decide whether to report it or protect his status. The decision tests his integrity and loyalty to friends.

Erik's father suffers a stroke, forcing Erik to balance his studies with work and caregiving duties. The hospital visits and home responsibilities strain his time and energy, adding emotional weight to his law-school journey. This personal challenge deepens his determination to graduate and provide for his family.

In their senior year, the trio encounters Deputy Dean Hernandez, a strict retired Supreme Court justice who demands precise answers. She references a pro bono land-title case about generational oppression, underscoring the real-world stakes of their legal education. The class learns that nuance and accuracy can shape justice for vulnerable communities.

Hernandez reveals that the dean offered a curve, but she ultimately prefers a cut-off grading approach. Christian earns a perfect 1.0, and the revelation warns that more students could fail under the curve. She offers Christian a choice: keep his grade or lower it to help Erik, triggering a tense moral debate about fairness and friendship.

Torran and Christian resolve to persuade Hernandez to help Erik, arguing that true support should extend to their friend in need. Moved by their persistence, Hernandez overturns the curve and sets a cut-off, allowing Erik to pass and graduate. The moment cements their loyalty to one another and to their shared future.

During the bar exams, Christian finds the test easy, Torran struggles with labor law, and Erik mourns his father's death while uncertain of his answers. When results come, Torran pretends he failed to spread joy to his family, but he passes, while Erik fails. Christian shines as a bar topnotcher, cementing their different endings to this phase.

Joshua reconnects with his friends, and Christian offers a portion of his acting income to Erik, who declines; Joshua insists Erik keep the money as condolence. Erik later visits Hernandez to discuss his future, and she supports a possible retake but notes the friends' ongoing belief in him.

Years after the first results, Erik takes a second bar exam and ranks ninth. Christian and Torran reveal that they coached him for the retake, solidifying their bond as supportive friends who are ready to face the legal world together. The trio's dedication shows in their ongoing camaraderie and shared professional goals.

Christian reconnects with Joshua by calling him before they head to the courthouse library, then reunites with Torran and Erik. Torran and Christian reveal they coached Erik for his bar retake, and they head to a courtroom ready for Erik and Torran to represent two opposing parties. The scene marks a full circle as friends become colleagues in the legal arena.