While other characters in Puig's literary universe may shimmer with enigma, those in Blood of Requited Love remain refreshingly straightforward. Here, the mystique for the reader doesn’t center around hidden depths but rather the tantalizing possibility of truth-telling, particularly from Josemar. The narrative’s allure unfolds through its contradictions, yet the lives of its principal figures are painted in broad strokes of everyday existence, bound by the rhythms of a quiet provincial town. Lovers rendezvous in the town square, twirl together at dances, catch glimpses of each other at soccer matches, and exchange greetings after church services. They embark on leisurely countryside strolls, attuned to the melodies of birds and the sparkle of stars. Their days are filled with schooling, secret trysts beneath the sheltering embrace of shade trees, and dreams spun of future possibilities.

However, Josemar's ambitions soon outgrow the narrow confines of the town. Yearning for greater things, he leaves, embarking on a journey to carve out a better fate. He toils first as a mason, then for the electric company, but both paths leave him short of the riches and recognition he desires. His scant savings are depleted, sacrificed to alleviate his mother’s agonizing arthritis. He fathers two children outside of marriage but can offer them little support. Their mother, a dedicated teacher, tends to them while also caring for Josemar's ailing mother. As his dreams unravel, even the modest home they inhabit faces the threat of sale to cover medical debts. Years after departing in pursuit of glory, Josemar finds himself stripped of everything, including a place to call home. Returning to Cocota after nearly a decade, he carries nothing but embellished tales of bygone days, grandiose stories of sexual conquests, and fabricated accounts of soccer triumphs.

Maria da Gloria, though a pivotal figure and frequent dialogue companion in the story, remains an enigma in herself. Through the third-person narrative, we glimpse her as a perceptive, self-sufficient young woman. Defying her father’s edicts, she allies with her mother to see Josemar, despite his rustic background and lowly status, making him an unsuitable match. The reader is left in the dark about her involvement in their romantic entanglement. After Josemar departs following the alleged incident, he neither reaches out to her nor seems interested in her fate. During his prolonged absence, she battles a nervous condition and becomes a rare sight in public. Josemar’s apparent indifference contrasts sharply with the mental space Maria occupies in his thoughts, filled with memories and visions of their rendezvous, and fantasies of what might have been.

In time, Maria da Gloria rehabilitates, resumes her education, becomes a teacher, and is on the cusp of embracing the affections of a childhood friend who has returned to Cocota, now armed with a professional degree.

In contrast to Josemar, the other characters in the novel, including Maria, seem resigned to their circumstances. Life in Cocota, with or without Josemar, unfolds at its usual unhurried, small-town rhythm.