FIVE: Nina

Vinter's POV

She appears in my life out of nowhere now, all of the sudden. When I was getting myself ready to move on from her, move on from the fact that I have a soulmate. Impeccable timing, Dove Stanley.

Everyone knows I have a soulmate, but no one except my girlfriend, close friends and family know the initials of my soulmate carved on my ankle. The only reason I let this information of having a soulmate out in public was that I thought it would be easier to find her. People think Nina Robbins is my soulmate cause after all we are the 'perfect couple' in their eyes. Nina is truly a very kind woman though; she is alright with the fact that I have a soulmate. She said she just wants to be with me and give me all the love that I deserve.

Going down the stairs, I saw Tristan approaching me. I raised my eyebrows at him and he gave me an equal questioning look in return.

"Were you smoking again, Vin?" He asked. I hummed in response as I sat down on the stairs, pulling out another cigarette from my pocket. Before I could put it in my mouth, it was taken away from me.

I glared at Tristan for snatching my stress reliever away like that.

"So, what if I was?" I asked as he sat beside me.

"Dylan hates it when you smoke, Vin. I don't want you two to have another big fight because of this bad habit of yours," he stated. "Moreover, this thing is going to ruin your life. Can't let that happen now, Can I?"

He threw the cigarette away. Well, there goes my last cigarette of the day. All thanks to my promise to my dumb brother, I'm only allowed to smoke 2 cigarettes per day. Damn you, Twilight Harris!

"You sound like that 'pain in the ass' Dove," I mumbled. Tristan chuckled.

"She's your soulmate, isn't she?" Tristan asked. Reminds me why haven't she gone down yet from the terrace? Did I say something to her that I wasn't supposed to say?

Oh... well... never mind. It doesn't concern me as she deserves it.

"How did you know?" I asked him.

"Didn't take me long to figure it out. Dove Stanley 'DS', probably Dylan will figure it out too sooner or later," he said shrugging. "Dove is a nice girl, Vinter."

I scoffed.

"Yeah, sure she's nice," as nice as the taste of black coffee. Bitter— so bitter. I got up and started walking to the other side, hopefully, I'll be able to get out of this building before having any other awkward encounters with either of my friends or my soulmate or even an angry Charles.

I can't figure Dove out; she is so unpredictable and 'know-it-all' person. She behaves as if she knows everything about me, but she doesn't and she will never know anything about me. Cause when I needed her the most, she wasn't there. She knew who I was all along and she never thought of approaching me.

Did she not love me? Did she not want this soulmate bond? Is she in love with someone else?

The bond that I saw as a blessing whole my life, feels like a curse. It's a curse because I still want to hug her, kiss her, love her even when she said she doesn't love me— back. I know I said horrible things to her just after we met for the first time, but I was hurt. She made it seem like she does not need me, she never needed me while I need her constantly. She made it seem like I was the only crazy one to put effort into searching for my soulmate— searching for her.

"Vin darling!" I heard a high-pitched voice. Of course, I know who it is.

"Nina," I said softly with a smile as I saw her approach me. She immediately wrapped her arms around me, now this woman is a beauty. I mean she's a top model and a very successful actress. With her sterling grey eyes and her long brunette hair, she has the body of a goddess. They said I'm the luckiest man to be able to date this woman or to have a soulmate like her as they believe.

But, sometimes I couldn't help but wonder, am I truly lucky?

She let go of me when she realized I didn't hug her back and stared at me in confusion. "What happened, babe?"

"Nothing... just have a lot on my mind," I replied as I held her closer. I don't want this— she is not even the type of person I would date in the first place. But I was craving for some affection... and she was there to give that to me.

"Well, then why don't you come to my place? We'll relax and..." she leaned closer again, wrapping her arms around my neck as she kissed my jawline. "...have some fun."

I can feel my blood rushing through my veins as I held her waist tightly. Damn these hormones. Good thing, no one is around. I caressed her sides, as she kept peppering my jawline and neck with kisses.

"Ew... my virgin eyes!" I heard someone's comment from behind me. Hearing the familiar voice, I let go of Nina and turned around to see the owner of the voice. When did she got here?

"Stanley?!" Nina gasped. I furrowed my eyebrows at both the women who seemed like they knew each other.

"Oh! It's the devil, herself!" Dove fake gasped as she smirked approaching us. More like approaching Nina.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Stanley?" Nina asked glaring at Dove.

"Ruining your romantic moment obviously," Dove chuckled devilishly. Her eyes darkened when she saw my arm wrapped around Nina, I pulled Nina closer to me protectively. Something about the look in Dove's eyes didn't feel right.

"That is all you do, Stanley. Ruin things, ruin people and ruin lives..."

"True but my sins don't even come close to what you did, Nina Robbins. Want me to remind you?" Dove asked a sly grin appeared on her face.

"Why can't you answer the damn question for once without word playing?" Nina asked, but her voice held something else in it too— fear.

"I wonder~" Dove sang. She stepped closer to my girlfriend and tilted her head.

"Could it be..." Dove mumbled as she placed her forefinger on her chin, tapping it.

"What?" Nina asked.

"Why do I feel like you are aware of the fact that I'm Vinter's soulmate and that is why you are dating him," Dove stated as another dangerous grin appeared on her face. Is she enjoying this?

"Dove, step back please," I said as I pulled both myself and Nina away from Dove.

She stepped back with no emotions in her eyes, just a glint of mischief in them. It's either this woman is too good at covering her emotions or she just doesn't have any.

"You can manage to keep Vinter in your trance, Nina. But you know who you are messing here with," Dove said pointing at herself. "If you are dating Vinter to get back to me. Just remember how much trouble I can cause you."

Dove winked at Nina and she looked at me, "and you! My man-child soulmate! You have a terrible taste in women," she said shaking her head in disappointment.

"Let's go, Nina," I said as I pulled Nina with me, Nina didn't stop glaring at Dove but not even once did I see Dove's smile flattening. Though I did see a flash of hurt passing through her brown orbs once which she immediately covered up with her mischievous look.

Both me and Nina left the building without looking back. I gripped Nina's hand; it was shaking. I stared at her with concern, whatever it was I just know one thing. Dove is not good news.

I helped her sit in the car as later I sat in the driver's seat. Turning the engine on, I started driving the car towards Nina's apartment. Good thing was, that the paparazzi, aren't allowed to get anywhere near the building of Hope records.

Nina's hands were still trembling as she grabbed the water bottle and chugged down the water from it. Dove scared her so much. I don't blame her; Dove does have the aura of intimidation. With the confident and manipulative air around her, it felt like she can make anyone do anything just by saying a few words the right way.

"Are you alright?" I asked my girlfriend. She stared at me with teary eyes as she shook her head.

"She hasn't changed, at all Vinter. She is still the same freak she used to be," Nina said. How long have these two known each other?

"What do you mean?" I asked her. She shook her head.

"Let's talk about it later. I just want to go home and rest, cuddling with you," she said. I sighed as I nodded.

I took her hand in mine as I placed our intertwined hands on my lap. I stared at her and gave her a comforting smile, she gave me a small smile and sighed out in relief.

But I couldn't help but think about the pair of brown orbs which said many stories that only I am supposed to figure out. Even though I don't know any of them yet, I will find out all about Dove and her past with Nina sooner or later.