Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct speech.

The teacher told the students that she had waited for them for about 15 minutes before leaving the class.

A

The teacher said to the students, “I waited for you for about 15 minutes before leaving the class.”

B

The teacher said to the students, “I could waited for you for about 15 minutes before leaving the class.”

C

The teacher had said, “I had waited for you for about 15 minutes before leaving the class.”

D

The teacher says, “I had waited for you for about 15 minutes before leaving the class.”