When the dismissal bell rang, Stella immediately stuffed her books into her bag. Beside her, Mayra did the same. They both intended to go straight home and had no desire to attend that afternoon's Student Council meeting.
Stella let out a long sigh as she tidied up her bag. "I feel like skipping the meeting today." Mayra nodded in agreement. "Same," she chimed in.
They had just started heading to the parking lot when Stella's phone vibrated. It turned out to be a message from Clarissa, her friend from another class and a fellow member of her division. Stella opened the message, which read:
La, please come to the Student Council room. Only a few people are here so far.
Stella immediately let out another long sigh. "Ugh, they're telling me to go over there." Mayra glanced at her. "Just tell them you can't," she chimed in. But a few seconds later, another message from Clarissa came in.
The meeting's to prepare for the school bazaar. Anyone who attends can get an excused absence.
Stella's eyes widened slightly. She then showed Mayra her phone screen. "Look at this."
Mayra quickly read Clarissa's message. As soon as she reached the part about getting an excused absence, her expression changed. "Wait, seriously? We can get an excused absence?" she asked to make sure. Stella nodded. "That's what she said." Mayra, who had been the least interested in attending the meeting, suddenly became enthusiastic. "Then let's go." Stella gave a small giggle. "You changed your mind fast." "Of course I did. We have advanced math tomorrow. And that teacher always makes the problems ridiculously hard," Mayra chimed in.
In the end, the two of them abandoned their plan to go straight home. Stella and Mayra then walked together toward the Student Council room.