Love's Rebirth

Chapter 5

Xavier's POV

Flashback - 8 years ago

I had been dreading this visit for a while. I'd spent every college break keeping my distance from the Cooper household. I had to. Even though Trent and I were like brothers, I had to stay away. She would be there. Delia. My obsession, my craving, my forbidden fruit. I couldn't be with her because she was younger than me, but most importantly, she was my best friend's sister.

Ever since Delia joined the Cooper family, I've gravitated towards her. She had never noticed, but her presence alone could send me into a tailspin. I always lost control over my speech, my thoughts, and even my body. She always thought I was just weird, but the truth was far worse. I was madly, irrevocably in love with her. She visited my every dream, inhabited my every thought, she even invaded my habits. Everything I did was to impress her. Trent and his brothers never noticed because I always hid it behind a cool facade, feigning irritation or annoyance whenever she was around. Some moments I would slip and do something to give myself away, but I would quickly catch myself and go back to my stoic countenance.

Delia had always been beautiful, but the older she got, the more her personality began to shine through. She became more confident, more self-assured, and more opinionated, but she never dismissed or looked down on people. She remained humble and empathetic. She was alwakind, thoughtful and sincere. She was the full package. Falling in love with her was as easy as breathing. Being with her was the impossible part. Trent would never agree to it, and her other brothers would also kick my ass for even thinking it. I was supposed to be another brother to her, but I couldn't ignore the pull I felt. She drew me in with every smile, every laugh, every word, every action, and every subtle gesture.

She could never know the effect she had on me. It would destroy my relationship with her brothers and her, and they were all too important for me to risk it. I resigned myself to pining for her in the background while she pursued her happiness and lived her best life. I just wanted her to be safe, happy, and loved.

Graduation day had been approaching, and I knew Delia would be there because Trent would be graduating too. No matter how much I prepared myself for it, seeing her always knocked me off my feet. Her beautiful brown skin always glistened in the sunlight. Her hair was always styled beautifully, either in braids or an afro. Her body was pure seduction with a generous bust, a small waist, bountiful hips, and an ass I wanted to worship. But it was her smile that was truly a weakness for me. Her smile was always so genuine, uninhibited, and pure. She wore her heart on her sleeve and wasn't afraid to let people see that. Her smile was an invitation to strangers and friends alike, welcoming them into her space and making room for them in her heart. Her smile was the first thing I fell in love with. Everything else just felt like the cherry on top. Delia Cooper would be the death of me in the very best way.

Graduation day came, and my nerves were shot. Trent noticed my anxiety but knew better than to comment on it. I paced the area where we were to be seated, twitching with nervous anticipation. However, all the preparation in the world couldn't prepare me for the sight that met me. Bright yellow fabric billowed around her legs as she walked towards Trent and me. Her legs were bare except for the straps of her sandals that laced all the way to the middle of her calves. The dress was short, reaching her mid-thigh, and the skirt was voluminous, like a tutu. The top of the dress was fitted, almost like a corset, pushing her breasts up, creating the most beautiful cleavage. The straps of her dress were thin, leaving her neck and shoulders exposed. Her skin looked flawless, with no blemishes in sight. I reached her face, and as expected, her smile knocked the wind out of me. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. When my mind finally caught up, my brain was already starved of oxygen. I felt lightheaded for a moment, but I quickly composed myself. When she reached us, she hugged Trent first and then moved to hug me next. I gave her an awkward, one-armed hug before walking away. I knew my actions were cold and dismissive, but I couldn't let her see the effect she had on me.

The ceremony started, and I forced myself to focus on the opening remarks from the Dean. My mind kept drifting to her expression when I stepped back from the hug. Her face has shown disappointment and sadness, but I couldn't comfort her. She couldn't know how I felt. I respected Trent (also feared him) too much to try anything with his baby sister. My mind was so occupied with thoughts of Delia that I almost missed my name being called. Someone next to me managed to get my attention, and I rushed onto the stage, accepted my diploma, and rushed off. I caught a glimpse of her on my way down, and my heart stuttered.

After graduation, I tried my hardest to avoid being around Delia for extended periods, making small talk with Trent before rejoining my family. I distanced myself from the Cooper family after college, making fewer efforts to hang out at their estate. Trent and I remained close, and he knew there was a girl I loved but couldn't be with. What he didn't know was that the girl was his sister. Delia and I very rarely saw each other, and the times we did were at family events once she and Leon started dating. It always irked me to see her with him.

Leon and I were never close growing up, and we grew even more estranged after he started dating Delia. He always treated our relationship like a competition, trying to one-up me every chance he got. I gave in to his demands time and time again. He had suspicions about my feelings for Delia, but I never confirmed or denied them to him. When he asked my permission to date her, it took everything in me to act nonchalant. Watching him take her for granted slowly broke something in me, but I ignored the pain, believing she would be happy with him. I chose to quietly love Delia from the shadows, secretly hoping I would one day get the chance to be with her. However, deep down, I had already accepted that Delia would never be mine.