Soulmates?

I had a disturbing thought from a friend today. Two friends of mine just broke up yesterday and one was talking to me about it. When asked how he felt, he said that they still love each other but they just knew they had to break up. Sometimes, I just don't understand that situation but sometimes I think I do. The thing is, he told us that he really feels and believes that he and her are soulmates. I joked around and told him that they would get back together someday, if not now, then surely in the future. He insisted NO. He said that soulmates do not usually end up together in this life but in the life after this. Now, for some reason what he said really got to me.
Do soulmates really not end up together in their lifetime but in their death? I don't understand that part. What's the sense of being soulmates then? Then I asked him how would you know who you're soulmate is. He just said that I would... "the magic", and snapped his finger at the same time. He seemed like he was kidding but he really was very serious. What is that "magic" that you would feel? How would you be so sure that it is "the magic" and not just a transient one that is brought about by our human emotions? Have I met my soulmate? Or am I too wait for that person still? and if so, for how much longer?